PotatoChip

Out of respect to the crew and families of National Airlines flight 102 I am permanently boycotting the Jet Lag Club in Narita, Japan and ask that you join me.

While drinking a beverage there last night a group of us were watching a looped video on a television in the bar. The video was mostly aviation related, showing funny clips or cool/motivating type scenes. There were occasional funny clips of non-aviation material. Without a break, the next clip is National crashing in Afghanistan.

This is a crash that happened THIS YEAR, where brethren of ours died while flighting for their lives in that aircraft. This video is tragic and exceedingly difficult for me to watch (especially being a 747 driver). But on top of that to randomly throw it in to a collection of useless petty clips?? To watch people die while drinking in a bar???

I asked the proprietor about the video. He said he personally made it.
I asked, "Do you think it is a bit inappropriate to play the National crash that happened this year in that video?"

- "No. That's life, bro."

- "Yeah, okay. But do you think that's what people want to see here? It's incredibly disrespectful."

- "That's what pilots want to see. They want to learn from their mistakes."

- "Ok, first of all, this isn't an aviation safety video. It's got clips of people falling in mud laughing right before it. Second, these guys were fighting for their lives after a load shift, not some mistake."

- "That's life, bro."

At which point I was disgusted and left. I simply cannot stand to the side on this one. If you are in Narita, I please ask you join me in avoiding this place. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 bars and restaurants nearby.

Thank you.

Chip

CRM114

Just to be certain, this was Vincent, the owner making these comments and the not the bartender? Those are classless comments to be sure, and no excuses, but if was the hired help it might be worth talking to the owner who I thought was reasonable. If was the owner, I agree, I'll vote with my wallet. There are plenty of places in NRT to get an over priced crappy rice beer.

AerisArmis

For years, he, and Hiroshi before him at the Flyers Lounge, have had a loop of aircraft accidents. Saber dance, A-7 off the waist cat, B-17s, B-29s, A-6s, F-4s, all of them. Maybe it's gallows humor but guys do watch and do comment. You have every right to boycott the JLC if you feel that way, but Vincent has every right to deny your request and I suspect his business will survive without you. When you find one of those 50 bars that caters to aircrew and where we can meet up with friends that we haven't seen for years....let us know.

PotatoChip

Yes. It was Vincent.

PotatoChip

I understand your point, and I believe bars are great places for pilots to talk about incidents such as this one. I have no problem with that. I also understand there have been loop videos of aviation accidents.
The difference here is that this was NOT an accident video. This was a video filled with humorous light-hearted clips, followed by the crash. Further, the attitude of Vincent, which was basically, "******* off if you don't like it", was not necessary.

727C47

that one hit too close to home, you are watching a death struggle all the way into the dirt,dont need to see that with my cervesas,I will pass ...

DC8DRIVER

I'll be skipping the JLC.
This hits too close to home.
No discretion. No class. No clue.
Probably he'll stay open with no problem.
Maybe he will take a small hit on drinks without me there.
Maybe he'll rot in he77.
But that's life, bro.

8

euroflyer

Thank you for sharing. I agree with you! Spread the word, people.

EF

Whaledriver101

I'll be at Jet lag in a few days. Its a cool bar.

C'mon PotatoChip,,, I'll buy ya a couple beers there.

USMCFLYR

I remember some wives asking the same question when the O' Club bar would be showing 'crash and burn' videos looped at the bar. I'm not sure about you guys, and I'm sure this guy's attitude might have made you mad, but I looked at the videos as a somber reminder of the dangerous business we were in day in and day out. They usually lead to some interesting *there I was* stories too which led to safety related discussions - all over beers with opinions (and beer bottles) flying.
I'd raise my beer to those guys who went down fighting.