Originally Posted by
nyctravis
I agree. I was hoping to subtly make that point too. Yes, it's frustrating to be second guessed by patients and families in our line of work (as I imagine something similar to what pilots face). But it's also kept many of my colleagues on their toes. For that, I think it's sometimes a good thing.
EVERYTHING that is said in the cockpit is recorded.
EVERYTHING that is transmitted over ATC frequencies is recorded.
Nearly EVERYTHING I do in my airplane (the Bus) is recorded.
There are cameras at the gates and jetways monitoring the plane.
At some stations they can be directed at the cockpit and zoomed in on the crew. They can see EVERYTHING.
I get two medicals a year and am in "the box" every 9 months for training and checkrides. All of which can result in an "interuption" of one's career.
FAA and company check pilots ride in our cockpits on a regular basis.
Occassionally a lady with a clip board meets us at the jetway for a urinalysis.
Anyone else like to sign up for this much scrutiny and oversight?
I doubt pilots need passengers listening in on CH 9 to keep them "on their toes".
And yes, I did note your smiley face, and I assume that your comments were somewhat TIC.
As pointed out in my previous post it is the possible intrusiveness at inopportune times that I find most troublesome with CH 9.
Despite that posters here may think otherwise, my passengers don't need to know everything that's going on at all times.
Many times an irregular aircraft situation or a weather/airport event becomes a non-issue after we've had time to work things out.
We get in safely, on time, and folks get on their way none the wiser.
As I mentioned, more than once I had the call chime go off (It's VERY loud in the Bus) and had crew asking questions about something a passenger had relayed to them.
Besides the fact that we were BUSY and that the call is intrusive, I prefer not to call back to the crew until I have everything worked out and all the facts at hand.
And, I prefer not to relay info to the passengers until I've had a chance to brief my crew and get them in the loop first.
I want myself and all my crew operating from the same playbook, THEN I relay info to the passengers, as accurately as possible.
Just makes good "Captainship" sense to me.
Been at this a LONG time. Still learning every day. I would say that most crews are the same.
Of course, as with any profession, there are the aberations that get the press and attention.
The rest of us (the very large majority) operate at the highest level of proficiency and professionalism.
I'd venture to say, at a higher level than most other careers.
For what it's worth, another 2 cents.