The Seattle Post Intelligencer has THIS story on a new 3 Hour Rule study done and it being condemned by the DoT.  Two “consultants” did a fast and dirty study on the 3 Hour Rule and its effects by using the first month’s data available (May 2010) to conclude that airlines were canceling flights to avoid risking fines.

I’ve said it BEFORE and I’ll say it again:  We have no meaninful data on this rule and its effects and it will take 12 to 24 months to have enough data on its effects. 

To do a quick and dirty study like that and make it public that quickly is bad statistical science and makes it and its authors (Darryl Jenkins and Joshua Marks) highly suspect.  I would like to know who is paying these “consultants” and what their credentials are.  You can see more HERE. 

These two people are describing themselves as a collaborative research program between the industry and Marks Aviation LLC.  In addition to a study that is bad statistical science, their website is bad too.  If one looks up Marks Aviation LLC on Google, one finds another really bad website you can see HERE. 

Perusing that awful piece of HTML, one discovers that Joshua Marks real claim to industry knowledge is some brief employment by MAXJet Airways.  While Josh claims a good education at Harvard, it would appear he’s been out of a job since 2008 (who hasn’t?) and I’m guessing Josh read somewhere that if you did trade studies, you bolstered your credibility while looking for a job.  Working for MAXJet Airways isn’t much to claim for experience considering its extremely limited operations, failed business model and its nose-dive into bankruptcy. 

All in all, I think Josh is trying to land a job and I think he’s trying to do it by stirring things up publicly so that he might get some attention from a real airline.  I’ve no objection to trying to get a job and I’ve no objection to “consulting” in the aviation industry while you look for one.  I have no objection to Josh even claiming some airline experience.  However, I object loudly to his “study” based on 1 month’s data and the first month at that.  Someone with a Harvard MBA really ought to know better.

As for Josh’s partner in this criminal study, Darryl Jenkins, well, his WEBSITE is bad too.  If Darryl was as credentialed and seasoned as he claims, he wouldn’t have put his name on such a bad study.  So that calls Darry’s credentials into question.  Older and wiser should know better.

Sorry folks, there isn’t anything to see here.  Just a bad wreck on the Airline expressway.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax