THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary- September 12, 2017- Topic 1

In the air

On the no-fly list

The Centre’s decision to put unruly air passengers on a no-fly list ranging from three months to a lifetime, depending upon the gravity of the offence, is stringent but welcome. The list will be maintained by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and be put in the public domain. The quantum of punishment is to be decided by an internal committee of the airline in question based on evidence produced by both the airline and the passenger within 30 days, during which time the passenger would not be allowed to fly. 

No compensation will be offered to the passenger in case the allegations of the airline are proven wrong. Aggrieved passengers can appeal within 60 days to an appellate committee. Other airlines will not, however, be bound by one airline’s no-fly ban. The no-fly list provisions look stringent, empowering airlines to impose strict penalties in case of alleged misbehaviour or graver offences by passengers. But in the case of India, these appear necessary in particular because of a widespread culture of entitlement, especially among ‘VIPs’, and growing incidents of air rage. The new rules are, specifically, a response to the recent case of unruly and violent behaviour by Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad on board an Air India plane six months ago. There have been other recent incidents of ‘VIP’ misbehaviour with airline staff — both in the air and on the ground. In Mr. Gaikwad’s case, Air India had imposed a temporary no-fly ban, which was subsequently withdrawn after a grudging apology from him. Existing guidelines and rules on unruly behaviour did not have provisions for a no-fly ban, necessitating these rules.

The no-fly list system, which has been adopted by other countries too, is a relatively new development in civil aviation. Care must be taken by the airlines to ensure that the imposition of the no-fly ban is used as the last resort; ideally, it should remain in the books as a deterrent. While incidents of egregious behaviour by VIPs and unruly passengers have not been isolated events, passenger anger has also been a consequence of airline inefficiencies. The record of some airlines in ensuring service on time and avoiding over-booking of tickets that result in last-minute cancellation of tickets is not satisfactory. Airlines must be careful not to hold out the threat of the no-fly list to keep passenger frustration in check, and thereby evade giving a full explanation for their mistakes. Thanks to lower fuel prices and profitability, the civil aviation industry in India is in a phase of recovery and stability following a shakeout. This is a good time for airlines to enhance their reach and service and keep prices competitive as more Indians take to air travel. While this is a guaranteed way to keep both passenger angst and air rage in check, preventive measures such as a no-fly list should be enforced only for the most egregious of cases.

Vocabulary

Unruly: disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control.

Example: Complaints about unruly behavior

Synonyms: disorderly, rowdy, wild, unmanageable, uncontrollable, disobedient

Offence: a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act.

Example: Neither offense violates any federal law

Synonyms: crime, illegal/unlawful act, misdemeanor, breach of the law

Stringent:  strict, precise, and exacting.

Example: California's air pollution guidelines are stringent

Synonyms: strict, firm, rigid, rigorous, severe, harsh, tough, tight, exacting

Quantum: a discrete quantity of energy proportional in magnitude to the frequency of the radiation it represents.

Example: This excess energy is emitted in quanta of electromagnetic radiation

Compensation: something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering.

Example: Seeking compensation for injuries suffered at work

Synonyms: recompense, repayment, reimbursement, remuneration, requital

Aggrieved: feeling resentment at having been unfairly treated.

Example: They were aggrieved at the outcome

Synonyms: resentful, affronted, indignant, disgruntled, discontented

Misbehaviour: the action of misbehaving; bad behavior.

Example: He had denied all sexual misbehavior

Graver: Tracer en creux.

Example: Graver un nom sur une plaque de bois .

Widespread: found or distributed over a large area or number of people.

Example: There was widespread support for the war

Synonyms: general, extensive, universal, common, global, worldwide

Entitlement: the fact of having a right to something.

Example: Full entitlement to fees and maintenance should be offered

Synonyms: right, prerogative, claim, permission, dispensation, privilege

Grudge: given, granted, or allowed only reluctantly or resentfully.

Example: A grudging apology

Synonyms: reluctant, unwilling, forced, halfhearted, unenthusiastic

Frustration: the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.

Example: I sometimes feel like screaming with frustration

Synonyms: exasperation, annoyance, anger, vexation, irritation, disappointment

Angst: a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general.

Example: Adolescent angst

Synonyms: anxiety, fear, apprehension, worry, foreboding, trepidation

Egregious: outstandingly bad; shocking.

Example: Egregious abuses of copyright

Synonyms: shocking, appalling, terrible, awful, horrendous, frightful