C$1.75/liter? Didn't you mention that it was around C$1.00 just
a few days ago? 
On my way to the P&R this morning, I drove past the two gas
stations just outside my townhome complex. They're usually quite
empty on normal days (usually only one or two vehicles filling up),
but this morning there were lines of vehicles waiting to gas up at
both stations. It looks like people here are finally waking up to
the very real possibility of US$5/gallon after Rita hits Texas and
the refineries there.
I heard on the news that H. Rita is now officially the third most
powerful hurricane on record. This does not bode well for the areas
in the hurricane's path. At least this time, people should be
better prepared for it, in the wake of the disastrous response to
Katrina. Last night, I called a former college roommate who is
currently living and working in Houston, and his township in one of
the surrounding suburbs was given a mandatory evacuation
order.
Yup, I saw the footage of the JetBlue Airbus A320 making the
emergency landing at LAX. All I can say is, I am in TOTAL
AWE at the masterful display of airmanship displayed by
the pilots, especially at how they managed to keep the nosegear
planted right on the runway
centerline during the entire rollout. Above about 70 kts.,
there is enough airflow over the rudder for it to be used in
maintaining directional control on a runway, but once the speed
drops below that on a landing rollout, the rudder loses
effectiveness and nosewheel steering is then used for directional
control. If the nosewheel becomes inoperable at that point, the
only other way to maintain directional control is through
differential braking, i.e., applying different amounts of braking
to each of the main wheels under the wings to steer the plane. The
fact that the JetBlue pilots were able to use differential braking
during the last part of the landing rollout to keep the aircraft on
the runway centerline, speaks volumes about their piloting
skills.
Now you know why commercial airline pilots are paid the big
bucks.
MG
