AIR PASSENGERS NEED TO FEEL SAFE

THE DOCTOR IS IN
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LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how's the world treating you?

Northwest airline pilots on flight 188 Richard and Timothy B. Cheney missed their destination by 150 miles and put the 144 passengers in harms way. These two pilots have been changing their stories as to what occurred in that cockpit over and over. Originally, they contend they had a argument, then changed that to working on computers checking schedules. I have a bridge in New York to sell you if you believe that.

Ten years ago the NTSB did recommend that all airplanes and helicopters which seat more than ten people have a cockpit recorder that records for two hours. However, this airplane had an out dated recorder that only records thirty minutes. It's obvious the airline industry continue to fall down on the job.

I suggest that all airplane that carry more than ten people should have video recorders inside the cockpit. That would solve many of the problems. The FAA could mandate cockpit video recorders. But so far the pilots oppose video recording in the cockpit. The NTSB and the FAA shouldn't suggest ideas but instead "mandate" the changes.

What are these and all pilots afraid of having video recorders in the cockpit? Taxis, school buses, law enforcement vehicles and many transportation modes have video camera protection.

Since this fiasco many pilots and representatives from the NTSB and FAA have said that it is not uncommon for pilots to fall asleep due to fatigue. If that is the case the pilots should take nap breaks on a rotation basis, one at a time.

I suspect that the pilots opposition to video in the cockpit is only because they want to cover their butts. Since 9-11 the door to the cockpit is basically sealed and even the attendants have no access other than through an intercom system. Proper agencies need more oversight on what is actually occurring the the cockpit.

So,can and does hanky panky go in the cockpit? What could pilots want to hide? Sleeping, drinking,card games,sex? What? If the pilots are professional and are doing their job following all rules and regulations there is no real reason to oppose video cameras operating in the cockpit. With that said, there are lives at stake. In this particular case 144 lives and the FAA and NTSB should take steps to make video cockpit recorders mandatory.- And, that's my opinion.

Bradley Kuhns,Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com