Flying while distracted? Northwest pilots say they used laptops

Trumbull, M. (2009, Oct. 26) Flying while distracted? Northwest pilots say they used laptops. The Christian Science Monitor. From Google News. Retrieved on November 1, 2009. http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1027/p02s01-usgn.html

Summary:

This article discusses the issue of the Northwest flight 188 with 144 passengers lost its destination by 150 miles and 2 more hours without connection between an airplane and a control tower. However, they are using laptops at the time of the flight and discussing their employer’s work – schedule system after a merger of Northwest with Delta Company, distracted the pilots. Many experts and the president of the Air Travelers Association discussed this case and gave some suggestions such as supplying the airplane by voice recorder for more than 2 hours, to record the end of 2 hours in flight; also setting up video cameras in the airplane cabin. However, pilots resisted these opinions, and they said the crew in the aircraft was not asleep or fatigued and no one of the passengers got hurt. In Addition, the flight crew’s actions were innocuous.

Reaction:

In my opinion, I cannot imagine I am in an airplane whose pilots distracted by a laptop or play station! This is Crew without any responsibility for dangers for passengers and airplane. This case should push the officials for the safety of airline passengers to take legal steps to protect passengers. I read a lot of stories about carelessness by some pilots such as sleeping during the flight or practicing sex with airhostesses or drunken alcohols during the flight. These stories make air travel more dangerous. I think, it is important for airplane companies to do anything to make travel by aircraft safer; they can set up video cameras in the cabin or do anything else. In addition, it is necessary to remind the crews that the flight is no place for mistakes or for having fun; there are a lot of people who hope to arrive safely.