Dear Richard

Dear Richard,

How have you been my old friend? Well, not exactly an old friend or even a new friend, but how are you just the same? I heard space tourism isn’t doing as well as you had hoped. Does this mean you will be refocusing your efforts towards better service or entertainment for your passengers on Virgin? Might I suggest something which I saw this past weekend on an Air India flight I took from Sharjah to Delhi.

I know, I know it isn't the route one normally takes Richard, but I was feeling a bit plucky and said, "why not?" Oh, and I am ever so grateful I did Richard.

As you know Richard I have a fondness for Indian food and Bollywood cinema and so was looking forward to the inflight entertainment program. Imagine my surprise when the crew decided to perform live theatre right before our eyes. It was heaven. It started off with a flight attendant going forward to the cockpit where she was struck by one of the pilots and then shoved through the door back into the passengers. It almost looked real. Then the purser on the flight confronted the officer who pushed the flight attendant and at that point both pilot came out of the cockpit and began punching and fighting with the purser and some of the other crew.

It was tremendous. Of course no one was flying the plane, but Richard, oh Richard the passengers were enthralled. This was entertainment involving everyone. Well, at that point the entire crew took a short break for intermission as we had a stopover in Lucknow.

Lucky for the passengers who embarked in Lucknow they got to see Act 2 of this production as the crew decided that another round of yelling and fighting was needed to give the passengers value for their airline dollar. Fantastic Richard. It was I daresay a production that will be unmatched. It isn’t often you get both the pilot and co-pilot out of the cockpit at the same time to engage in something like that. Oh, sure there were some screams from the passengers when they realized no one was flying the plane holding 300 people, but those who recognized the good entertainment value like myself simply applauded and shouted, “Bravo,” asking for more.

The reviews must have been poor though Richard because the plane was met by Air India personnel and the crew were all suspended pending an investigation. Oh sure they could have drawn more blood or raised the tension up a few more notches, but for live, in-flight entertainment from amateurs I think it was splendid.