A Whole New Meaning To: "Parked At The Gate"

The airline industry (or should we say, American industry) isn’t what it used to be.

Here we see Alaska Airlines Pilot Todd Swensen living in an LAX parking lot along with over a hundred other pilots, mechanics and airline personnel. Swensen’s home base is Fresno, but he spends part of each week living out of this trailer to save money. (He says he doesn’t even hear the noise anymore.)

Particularly interesting is the “change effect” when “Captain Todd” emerges from the trailer in full uniform. Perception is everything, isn’t it?

Watch the LAT multimedia slideshow here. A hat tip, by the way, to the thoughtful and diligent “photo-advocacy” site Multimedia Muse.

(image: Mel Melcon/LA Times)