Post by artraveler on Apr 8, 2021 12:36:15 GMT -8
United Airlines
United is just another example of how we are discarding competence for PC. Operating an aircraft is not really difficult in good weather, without mechanical problems, or sudden problems. In fact it is so simple that a computer can do it from take off to landing. So why have someone in the left seat? The onboard computer system in modern aircraft can even handle problems of weight distribution, fueling and other assorted common preflight items. So why have some one in the right seat? Why pay the salaries for a pilot and co-pilot?
The reason airlines pay these men and women salaries is not to do the basics of driving an aircraft. It is to make the decisions that experience and skill bring to the task. To make the decisions that no computer anywhere can make. No computer logarithm could have made the decision that Sullenberger made to ditch in the Hudson. All the salary paid to him over his lifetime was justified in less than 5 minutes.
This is not to imply there are not competent and skilled female pilots, there are many. But we don't pay these men and women to take the lives of hundreds of other men and women in their hands for a no problem, no hassle flight but to be there when the shit hits the fan. The traveling public pays their enormous ticket prices to be taken safely from point A to B without being the first at the crash site. Surrounding skills, talents and abilities for some perceived level of equality is not just stupid but almost ensures more disasters.