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To understand why pilots are flying tired and falling asleep in the cockpit you don’t need to look any further than the statement by Frontier Airlines spokesman Joe Hodas that airliners “literally do fly themselves” (“Pilots asleep on DIA approach, Web report says,” Nov. 2).

If airline management believes that’s true, then why bother allowing pilots to get adequate rest? If anything goes wrong, the airplane will step in and save the day.

Hey, Mr. Hodas, if it’s that easy, why don’t you try it?

Douglas Hoeschle, Littleton

READER COMMENTS

So it's management's fault the Captain and FO fell asleep? Might hanging out in the bar, and pushing the alcohol cut off to the last minute, on the overnight the day before have more to do with it? Since they say it was a red eye flight, perhaps "slam clicking" and using that 8 hours on the ground for sleeping, might have been the wiser choice.

Attaining altitude and switching on the "auto-pilot" pretty much allows the plane to "fly itself". Heck the Airbus can land itself too, provided the flight crew properly configure the computer.

Ultimately the Captain and FO have final say as to whether or not that plane leaves the ground. Looks like someone failed to to their job...

But hey, it's always managements fault.

Pilots are glorified (and way overpaid) bus drivers. There, I said it.

Ralph weren't you a bus driver on The Honeymooners?

Its always easy to trash someone's job, until you have to do it.
Piloting a big jet is neither easy or automatic. We're overpaid and glorified, until an engine quits while surrounded by thunderstorms (happened to me).
I guess it bears repeating here: The FAA sided with the pilots in this incident. Lots of factors were at work which resulted in this schedule being unsafe, and they didn't get 8 hours of rest on the ground more like 3-4.
Adequate rest continues to be an issue, blaming the pilots isn't going to change it. By the way, my butt is strapped to the same airplane as the passengers.

Pilot - "Its always easy to trash someone's job, until you have to do it. "

True statement - true as well for every other job. Piloting a commercial airliner in 2007 is EASIER than driving a bus in the city. And EASIER than most jobs I would submit. If it weren't so over -glorified and over-paid, why are so many lined up to do it? Most are trained thanks to the US taxpayer (Air Force) and their companies. It's not like they invested their own $$ in getting the skill (like doctors, engineers, etc do).

Wrong Ralph. Just plain wrong

I spent a little over 60 thousand of my own dollars learning to fly airplanes, plus earning a college degree. Because of the high cost it took me almost ten years before I got my first airline job.

I worked in the commuters for long hours and low wages for years.
How low? 13k a year, then a big raise to 20k.

The 500,000 pound jet I pilot across the Atlantic today is way more complicated than the city bus I get on to go to the airport. It just is.
Still I respect and appreciate the bus driver and his professionalism and dedication to getting me to the airport safely.
I want him to be adequately compensated for his job, and to be well rested.

The rightwing hates everybody.

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