The passenger experience: social media, in-flight connectivity, wearable technology, seat pitch.

Aviation journalist Mary Kirby is founder and editor of the Runway Girl Network, a B2B2C source for intelligence about the passenger experience. The Network covers the industry from nose to tail, in the air, and on the ground. Be sure to follow the #PaxEx hashtag.

A JetBlue passenger tweeted that the pilot was or might have been intoxicated. Another passenger in turn Tweeted about this but was denied re-boarding after the pilot was cleared.

Airline passengers are increasingly using social media to make comments about the airline or the flight. Just what does it take for a passenger to be considered “disruptive� Airlines need a protocol for how a they respond to the new level of social media activity and scrutiny.

On a flight from PHL to the Dominican Republic, a 54-year-old man had reportedly said “I have Ebola, you are all screwed.” The plane was met by a team in full hazmat suits at the destination.

Screenings have been stepped up at JFK for passengers arriving from high risk countries.

Passengers can make bad jokes or inappropriate comments that can affect flight safety. What should the consequences be?

A recent SITA survey shows technology improves the passenger experience. Almost 77% of surveyed passengers said they would be comfortable with the use of wearable tech to help them on their journey.

Airlines who seek to differentiate themselves on service are looking at wearables like Google Glass.

We also examine in-flight connectivity, who the providers are, and opportunities in an environment where penetration outside the US is only estimated to be 6%

The Gogo Text & Talk product lets you use your mobile phone in flight, and is rolling out to business aviation.

A US legacy airline is shopping around the idea that it’s planning to create a dedicated “economy minus†cabin. This could be a trial balloon, but maybe not.

Low Cost Carriers (LCC) and Ultra Low Cost Carriers (ULCC) are putting a lot of pressure on the US majors. Who will go below the 28†seat pitch?

Jamie Dodson tells us about the Sikorsky S-43 Amphibian.

Grant has been flying a balloon again, and he’s taken Evan Schoo and Albert up with him. They take a moment from the flight to record an intro, then Grant slots in these news items:

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• Changes have started at CASA but the official response to the Aviation Safety Regulatory Review (aka, The Forsyth Report) haven’t come out yet. That response is due by the end of 2014.
  

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• The Qantas Founders Museum have purchased a Lockheed Super Constellation to join the aircraft on display at Longreach in outback Queensland.
  

Rob looks at how personal electronic devices impair the pre-flight safety briefing.

Pieter visits Tim Robinson at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s London HQ, 4 Hamilton Place. Hallowed ground for any aviation and aerospace geek.

617 Squadron and the Dams Raid

Seaplane in Tasmania 3 Sir John Falls

Wright Brothers National Memorial

National Historical Park, Ohio

Carillon Historical Park

Hawthorn Hill

Henry Ford Museum’s Greenfield Village

Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.