Mel Sharples
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2004
- Posts
- 313
Obviously the media tries to sensationalize a story. That is how they get ratings. If not, they would have a computer-synthesized voice read text to us with pictures and that would be the news. They have to "sell" the story if they want ratings.
If you think this is bad, tune in for sweeps week. "Do you know what is in your child's lunchbox??? He or she could DIE! Tonight, only Action 9 News can tell you how your child could DIE from a school lunch. If you love your children, you better watch Action 9 News tonight!"
With that said, I think the "having a little fun" comment is bad no matter how you look at it. Have we all ever done something in a plane because it is "fun"? Of course we have. We got into flying because it is fun (at least I hope so).
The problem is that the public sees FAR 121 flying (read: airlines) as being a highly professional service that puts safety first. They don't see it as a place for "fun". They would never want you (us) to do something purely for fun. It is all about legal and safe.
Did those guys screw up? I don't know. I really hope not, and I hope that the NTSB can figure it out. I do know that we can all learn from this, as with any accident. And I also know that the intended meaning of "having a little fun" doesn't matter, when the public hears it from the late pilot's own mouth. Right or wrong, we are all going to hear about this for a long time. It's no different when pilots fly drunk, or when Payne Stewart's pilots had the oxygen issue. The public sees their safety threatened (again, for right or wrong) and it all rolls down hill.
Godspeed, FLG 3701... Rest in peace.
.
If you think this is bad, tune in for sweeps week. "Do you know what is in your child's lunchbox??? He or she could DIE! Tonight, only Action 9 News can tell you how your child could DIE from a school lunch. If you love your children, you better watch Action 9 News tonight!"
With that said, I think the "having a little fun" comment is bad no matter how you look at it. Have we all ever done something in a plane because it is "fun"? Of course we have. We got into flying because it is fun (at least I hope so).
The problem is that the public sees FAR 121 flying (read: airlines) as being a highly professional service that puts safety first. They don't see it as a place for "fun". They would never want you (us) to do something purely for fun. It is all about legal and safe.
Did those guys screw up? I don't know. I really hope not, and I hope that the NTSB can figure it out. I do know that we can all learn from this, as with any accident. And I also know that the intended meaning of "having a little fun" doesn't matter, when the public hears it from the late pilot's own mouth. Right or wrong, we are all going to hear about this for a long time. It's no different when pilots fly drunk, or when Payne Stewart's pilots had the oxygen issue. The public sees their safety threatened (again, for right or wrong) and it all rolls down hill.
Godspeed, FLG 3701... Rest in peace.
.