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An
America West Airlines flight from Phoenix to Austin diverted to Tucson
recently. An unruly and disruptive passenger caused the captain to land
the plane in consideration of flight safety. Oddly, the passenger reportedly
was a pilot for America West Airlines who was suffering from long-term
stress and personal problems. For some flying is stressful enough, without
this added concern. What’s up in the air?
The
term “air rage” refers
to incidents where passengers of planes seem to “go nuts,” interfering
with the safe operation of the aircraft or the work of the flight attendants,
and disrupting other passengers. What planetary forces contribute to people
going crazy in the air, and why are we hearing
about it so often now?
Out
of Control
First,
the planet of the shadow side of the personality and the hidden psyche
(often seething beneath the surface), Pluto, is moving through the long-distance
travel sign of Sagittarius. The urge to go to foreign, interesting or
restful places comes from Sag. Jets get you there, and they get you there
fast fulfilling the immediate gratification urge of the fiery Sag energy.
And jets offer something else—crowding—something critically un-Sagittarian.
Crowding, whether with mice in a cage or people on an aircraft, intensifies
ambient tension. Pluto exacerbates this turbulent effect with its uncanny
ability to suppress, until the hidden pressure causes spontaneous personality
explosions from normally decent folk.
Pluto
is linked to control. In an aircraft, the passenger has no control over
the outcome of the flight. Typically, a passenger holds little to no awareness
of the status of the flight. Blind trust in the guy up front and in the
aircraft and its maintenance must prevail. Over the last few years, we’ve
learned how much stress and alcoholism there is among flight crews. Economics
force airlines to gundeck (cheat) maintenance. Often, they use cheaply
fabricated parts that do not meet aviation quality standards to cut costs
and increase profit. The collective sense is that our planes, though more
sophisticated than ever, could also have more problems than ever.
Let’s
not think about it. We’ve got a flight to catch. This is more suppression
by Pluto.
Something
Else to Drink?
Delays
occur more frequently with more people flying, more planes in the air,
less effective scheduling and maintenance factored against weirder weather.
When this occurs, airlines throw free drinks at passengers. A fact of
life is that in higher altitude alcohol affects us faster. The average
airplane cabin pressurizes to about 7,000 feet above sea level, making
it easier to get drunk in flight than in Denver.
Presently,
the planet of alcohol, Neptune, cruises at high altitude in the air sign
Aquarius. Collectively speaking, people respond with greater sensitivity
to alcohol and drugs during this time. Add the altitude influence and
high volume of liquor poured and the hidden frustrations burst out of
even the most unsuspecting souls.
Currently,
the Sun is at its maximum in its eleven-year
solar cycle. More intense radiation enters our atmosphere. The effects
of this radiation double roughly every 6,600 feet of altitude gained.
Though science and the airline industry report no short-term effects,
the wild, electrical energies of the high voltage Uranus in the lightning-like
sign of Aquarius suggest otherwise. This powerful influence renders the
electro-magnetic system of the body subject to greater surges in the aura.
Frantic vibrations induced by Uranus strike the body like a jolt of electrical
caffeine. Stress and hypertension abound.
The
composite of all these astrological, aeronautical and social factors culminates
in this new malady of air rage. What can be done?
A
Remedy
Pluto
in Sagittarius says keep the flying public informed, especially of difficult
situations such as mechanical difficulties or extreme weather. Give them
knowledge so that they feel more at peace. Sometimes Neptune just wants
to know, not ignore.
Further,
Neptune in Aquarius suggests setting an alcohol standard. The airline
crews need knowledge and authority to enforce in-flight alcohol consumption.
If you can give them legal right to fibulate a heart, you can allow them
to regulate passengers’ consumption.
Uranus
in Aquarius suggests increasing the air supply on board (Aquarius is an
air sign) so passengers might breathe their way back to relaxation. Generally,
the flying public receives and alarmingly low oxygen content in flight
(that’s why many people so easily fall asleep).
Air
rage trends are not going away. The conditions of the aviation industry
contribute greatly to the mix. But these patterns suggest we all learn
and deal with the necessities of our accelerated and complicated lives,
not only in flight, but in life in general.
Please
place your tray in the upright position. The next flight segment of life
departs momentarily. We are now pre-boarding only the well-behaved.
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