Posted in today's NY Times:
To the Editor:
Re “Quiet Flight, Then a Blast and a Sudden Plunge” (front page, April 19):
Capt. Tammie Jo Shults, a former Navy pilot, did an outstanding job flying Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to safety on Tuesday, but readers should know that all airline pilots train for these emergencies. Demonstrating the ability to fly with an engine failure is required for airline transport pilot certification.
Also, quick drops, although scary, do not mean a crash is inevitable. Planes that lose cabin pressure as Flight 1380 did must descend quickly to an altitude where people can breathe unassisted.
Finally, though Captain Shults has been rightly lauded, the co-pilot, Darren Ellisor, also deserves praise for his skill under pressure. Crews act as teams during emergencies. The co-pilot reads checklists, acts as a second set of hands and talks with air traffic control.
Flying is the safest method of transportation today. We shouldn’t take for granted the many people who make it so.
MARY CATHERINE LONGSHORE
JUPITER, FLA.
The writer is a licensed commercial pilot.