Oooooh, I think this idea of Jacqui's is absolutely wonderful! Imagine the level of trust it could generate between pax and pilots!
Just to help her along with her idea, I'm offering up some more "fleshing out" of this new "trusted pilot", identification process of hers.
Just prior to boarding, there will be a questionnaire handed to the Captain and the FO. It will contain questions such as;
1. Have you had a fight with your wife just as you left your home/hotel/crew accommodation/tent?
2. Have you had any suicidal thoughts lately, or expressed a desire to kill people?
3. Have you got a flight sim at home, and is it a large one?
4. Who did you vote for in the last election?
5. Do you have any extremist, religious/political/sexual activity views?
6. Did you burn ants with a magnifying glass as a child?
7. Do you know which levers to pull and buttons to press, to make the plane take off and land?
8. Have you done this before?
9. Who owns the aircraft and is it comprehensively insured?
10. Have any repairs been carried out on it lately, by unqualified overseas people?
After this form is filled in, it will be handed around to pax who will take a vote via a show of hands, to determine whether the Captain is;
1. Good-looking enough to be a pilot.
2. Trusted enough to fly the pax to their destination.
Once the vote is taken and the hands counted, a majority of votes for the Captains honesty and good looks, will ensure the flight takes place.
The Captain will promptly receive a "trusted pilot" badge, plus an elephant stamp, in green, in his logbook.
If the show of hands is inadequate, everyone will be advised to front again tomorrow at the same time, for another "Question Time".
