Todos
← Back to Squawk list
Westjet announces Apr. 1 move to "metric time."
Westjet announced on Apr. 1 that it is moving to "metric time" to reduce confusion for passengers. Here is the formula, for those wishing to do the conversion. (HR x 60) + MIN = X / 1.44 = New metric flight time (www.westjet.com) Más...This was actually very clever marketing. If anyone visited the WestJet web-site as a result of this video (such as I did) would have realized that they could get a 20% discount on bookings for today only. I would imagine that many people visited the web-site as a result. WestJet wins this April Fools day 2014!
Another great Westjet skit...happy April Fool's Day. Check out their 2013 Christmas skit. http://youtu.be/zIEIvi2MuEk
Seems some of the thread has split to complaint of the metric system. Certainly can be confusing when combining with Imperial. I'm a middle age Canadian doctor who is of that generation who grew up learning both in elementary school and I sympathize with the challenge. Would not want to mix up lbs or oz and kg or ml when calculating drug doses. Even more of a challenge for those, like my parents, who grew up with only Imperial. However, if you take a step back, the metric (esp SI metric) makes so much easier calculations when you look at it technically rather than what you're used to. In fact, my metric-only kids look at the large array of non-sensical (not base 10) imperial units and they wonder why anyone would want to confuse themselves needlessly. And, as I point out to colleagues sometimes, if you're smart enough to be a doctor (or pilot, engineer, mechanic, or anyone else in this thread), you're smart enough to learn a new language/units.
Cheers. Love following all things airplane and flight.
Seems some of the thread has split to complaint of the metric system. Certainly can be confusing when combining with Imperial. I'm a middle age Canadian doctor who is of that generation who grew up learning both in elementary school and I sympathize with the challenge. Would not want to mix up lbs or oz and kg or ml when calculating drug doses. Even more of a challenge for those, like my parents, who grew up with only Imperial. However, if you take a step back, the metric (esp SI metric) makes so much easier calculations when you look at it technically rather than what you're used to. In fact, my metric-only kids look at the large array of non-sensical (not base 10) imperial units and they wonder why anyone would want to confuse themselves needlessly. And, as I point out to colleagues sometimes, if you're smart enough to be a doctor (or pilot, engineer, mechanic, or anyone else in this thread), you're smart enough to learn a new language/units.
Cheers. Love following all things airplane and flight.
Right on! :) Looks like some folks did not get the tongue-in-cheek humour! :)
that was the first known jet glide to success ever , great job , but that metric change could have been a disaster if that plane crashed and killed every one on board , and for what ? I still don't know
Simple answer the entire planet except Myanmar, Liberia, and USA is metric.
Back in 1968 USA Congress began a 5 year study to convert (by law) to the metric system, Canada began a study in 1971.
Canada switched to Metric prior to the USA converting, in the end the USA decided not to make it mandatory - so entities like the US Air Force changed, along with most companies that do business internationally, but the general public did not.
Back in 1968 USA Congress began a 5 year study to convert (by law) to the metric system, Canada began a study in 1971.
Canada switched to Metric prior to the USA converting, in the end the USA decided not to make it mandatory - so entities like the US Air Force changed, along with most companies that do business internationally, but the general public did not.
Happy April Fools Day .