Trouble in the air not limited to passengers ... A huge Ferris wheel for New York

I guess Alec Baldwin and folks who won't shut off their iPhones aren't the only problems in the air these days.

Twice in the last week we've had flight attendants going at it. The first incident involved two flight attendants on an American Eagle flight from New York to Washington getting into it. The plane had to be brought back to the gate and passengers waited FOUR HOURS for a new crew, according to travelmole.com. Yikes, would that piss you off or what?

The latest brouhaha came when attendants on a United flight from Raleigh-Durham to Chicago got into a knockdown fight that was so vicious the pilot had to go back to the airport in Carolina. The Raleigh-Durham News and Observer said no arrests were made as there was no physical assault.

Travelmole said the pair "had been in a prior altercation and the accidental brush of a leg while attendants were seat near each other was the start of the incident."

Can't we all just get along?

BIG WHEEL IN THE BIG APPLE

It sounds like the Ford brothers are making inroads into New York City. That may be a little unfair, but it's interesting to read an Associated Press report Thursday that tells how the world's biggest Ferris wheel is to be built on Staten Island.

I hadn't heard the phrase, but apparently some folks call Staten Island New York City's "forgotten borough." That might be better than being the Bronx and being known for crime and terrible housing, but Staten Island tourism types no doubt look at the growing cultural/hotel/food/bar scene in Queen's and, especially, Brooklyn and wonder why they can't get a piece.

The wheel will be 625 feet tall (191 meters), higher than the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer and a "High Roller" wheel planned for, where else, Las Vegas.

Riders will get tremendous views of the New York harbour, including the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Good views also should be had of the financial district and Donald Trump's ego which infairness, is visible from Delaware.

The package also is supposed to include a 200-room hotel and a 100-shop outlet mall.

"The New York Wheel will be an attraction unlike any other in New York City - even unlike any other on the planet," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The Staten Island Ferry, which is free, is a nice attraction, but it sounds like it's mostly for commuters and that most tourists simply take the boat for the views.

Staten Island is the only New York borough not accessible by subway. But it does have its attractions, including a minor league ballpark and, this is hilarious, a groundhog called Staten Island Chuck. Chuck is supposed to be able to predict the onset of spring, much like Wiarton Willie in Ontario or Punxsutawney Phil in Pennsylvania. It's not clear in the AP story if Chuck is much of a prognosticator, but he does have the distinction of having once bitten Bloomberg.

Now THAT'S a photo op.