It seems now we not only have to worry about terrorists taking over our planes (for those of us who still think like that since 9/11) but now we have to worry about some pilots with whom we are entrusting our lives.
I haven’t heard enough outrage about this latest incident with the Northwest pilots who overshot their destination by 150 miles..AND wasted the passengers’ precious time to reach their location…and did I mention also jeopardized individuals’ safety? Is the flying public ignoring it like they would a flight attendant’s emergency oxygen mask presentation?
It was a precarious enough situation that military jets were almost sent up to check on the plane. It is even more unnerving because now pilots can lock the cockpit door and we have no way to know what they are doing. How did these two pilots ignore attempts at communication with air traffic controllers? And where were the air marshals? Shouldn’t they have been a bit suspicious?
On the flip side, former NTSB members have gone on TV saying that there are tens of thousands of flights a day that go on without a hiccup – which is a pretty stellar safety record. However, if you are the one on a not-so-safe plane, the others just don’t matter.
So – what can we do? I have friends who are afraid of flying who have introduced themselves to the pilots when they get on board, ask to see the cockpit, and check in with them. You can also remind them that you will be paying attention to the flight and landing times. But – what about those red eyes? I love those flights myself, but always wonder how the pilots stay awake… in light of this recent incident we have had some implied comments that pilots do doze off now and then.
Which brings us to one solution that is being tossed around…and invariably would cost the airlines ( and us) more money of course: Cameras in the cockpit. I’m all for it. What do you think?
