strike off wastage n.— «It could also be expected that one or two aircraft will be routinely lost per 10,000 flying hours, due to what is termed “strike off wastage,” or accidents, in common parlance. The total bill therefore...
bright work n.— «Hill’s job on this piece of aviation history was a tricky procedure called “bright work,” shining the naked aluminum on the underside of Air Force One’s fuselage. “We polished it. Then we put a coat of...
metal play n.— «In industry parlance, the plane deals are called “metal plays.” After 9/11, when airlines started returning planes to creditors or demanding substantially lower lease rates, a few hedge funds saw an...
twenty-minute takeout n.— «The “security check” used by the CIA to prepare a detainee for transport on a rendition plane was described to us by one source in the American intelligence community as a “twenty-minute takeout.” His...
cafeteria pricing n.— «However, there is a catch: a policy Diffenderffer refers to as “cafeteria” pricing. Skybus charges $5 for each checked piece of luggage. Like Southwest, flights are open seating, but you can pay $10 for...
candy-bar phone n.— «“If I could just pick your brain: What do you think of the candy-bar style?” Mermelstein asked. “I have nothing against the candy-bar phones,” Mossberg said. There are three types of phones—flip and slide phones...