26 September 2013

Major Screw-Up: Apple Maps

You may have heard about this, but here goes anyway.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A glitch in the Apple Maps app on newer iPhones and iPads guides people up to a runway at a major Alaska airport instead of sending them on the proper route to the terminal, an airport official said Wednesday.

The map actually stops at the tarmac, but twice this month, wayward drivers have continued across an active runway.

"It doesn't actually tell you to cross, but the problem is, people see the terminal then at that point, because they are right there, and they just continue across," said Fairbanks International Airport spokeswoman Angie Spear.


There were no injuries in either the Sept. 6 incident or the second one Friday, mainly because they both happened early in the morning, between flights.

"Obviously, it could have been a very, very, very dangerous situation had they come during a flight departure or arrival," Spear said.

That entrance to the taxiway has now been barricaded from traffic.

I have to ask: what the heck is wrong with these people?  Mindless obedience to an electronic device ... ARRRRRGH! And we've all seen the stories about people who follow the GPS instructions right into the ocean, when driving off a ferry boat.

"Low-information voters" takes on a whole new level of meaning.

Oh well. Next time you run into one of these people, ask 'em for a large order of fries.

8 comments:

Teresa said...

I have to wonder about those people...

Also, why isn't the runway fenced off so they can't do that? I know it's Alaska and there are fewer people, but quite obviously some of them have come up short in the great distribution of brain cells and must be protected against themselves. Ha.

Rev. Paul said...

Teresa, apparently it was open until recently; now you can see the temporary barricade they've placed across the roadway.

Some people need more help than others, it seems.

Sandy Livesay said...

Rev. Paul,

Between Maps App, and GPS people are depending too much on these applications or software to direct them to specific places and end up cutting across runways,and driving into water. What happened to using a compass and a paper map?

Rev. Paul said...

Sandy, my police friends tell me that people don't even know how to go around the block, in some instances when an intersection has been closed. "I always go this way," they whine.

It's truly sad how ignorant we've become.

Well Seasoned Fool said...

Never had anything that dramatic, but have been directed to take a road where no road exists. Have also been directed to an address miles away from where I needed to go. People, you must use your brain for more than an autopilot link.

As an example, you enter 103 Swampy Road NE and find no 103. You probably should look for Swampy Place, Swampy Circle, etc.

Or you can be in Seattle looking for East Marginal Way South.

Rev. Paul said...

WSF, I'm still surprised by people's general inability to think for themselves. And re: directions in Seattle, I hear you. The first time I got turned around there was in 1977. Sadly, it wasn't the last time.

ProudHillbilly said...

If it wasn't that they take others with them, the removal by mishap of folks like these could be viewed as chlorine in the gene pool. 'Cause driving across an active runway, into a ravine, or out into the desert in the summer just because the GPS says so is not behavior that any species needs to retain.

Rev. Paul said...

I'd be hard-pressed to disagree with you, PH. Stupidity often provides its own reward.