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Asleep at the Yoke
Err Travel · July 25, 2000

Last month I questioned why the Air Line Pilots Association is resisting the installation of cameras in passenger airliner cockpits.

Sure, sometimes cockpit voice recordings used in accident investigations get leaked to the press. Yes, the airing of these recordings can be troubling for the families of the victims. And certainly, video recordings of accidents in progress make even more compelling television than audio recordings - how else does Fox TV stay in business - and therefore would be even more coveted by the media.

Nevertheless, you'd think that the information that could be derived from the study of cockpit behavior during accidents (i.e., saving lives) would outweigh the downside of potential emotional anguish over the dead.

(In a weird convolution of life imitating art imitating life, this seems to be what's happening in the off, off Broadway production of "Charlie Victor Romeo." According to The Wall Street Journal, this play, which gets its script as well as its name from Cockpit Voice Recorders, has captured the attention of the Army and Air Force. It has become required viewing for West Point cadets studying Engineering Psychology, and the Air Force may produce a video of the play to be used in training.)

So why aren't union pilots aren't lining up in support of cockpit cameras? I don't get it.

Well Err Travel readers do. A couple of emails in particular widened my eyes.

I am a flight attendant. I'm not surprised to hear that pilots are not hot on [the] idea of having their every move recorded for possible postmortem scrutinizing. Many pilots feel empowered by their control of the aircraft and the implied trust of the passengers with their fates. Putting them under constant video surveillance would undermine that sense of trust and control and make them feel [more] like convenience store clerks.

Imagine a convenience store clerk mentality combined with an aviator's responsibilities. Not a good match. Pilots may have big egos, but they usually have the big responsibilities and right capabilities to warrant them.

I'm on the fence with this issue. I can see why a pilot would not want video of possibly his last moments on earth on television to haunt his wife and children. There is a certain gruesomeness to that I think just about anybody can understand. And I can see why the American public would like to finally see what goes on behind that little locked door instead of relying on the media's exaggerated speculations.

If video cameras do end up in cockpits, don't be surprised if they end up covered in duct tape.

-- Tudmudge

I'm a private pilot, not an airline one, but have a possible perspective on this issue.

Airline jets require a multi-person cockpit crew. On long flights, the pilot or co-pilot are known to "rest their eyes" for a few minutes/hours during the en route portion of the flight. It's safe (the other pilot and the autopilot have things well in hand, and there aren't many things to hit above 30,000 feet) but against regulations. I think the pilots fear that employers will use the video to spy on them and eliminate "nap time." This quality time can't currently be captured on the cockpit voice recorder unless the resting pilot snores very loudly.

-- Steve Wolf

[Tudmudge and Steve, I see your points. The animosity that has grown between the airlines and their employees has probably nudged this distrust along, too. (By the way, what kind of name is Tudmudge?)]

Dr. Terry Riley is a psychologist and travel security authority. His column appears on Wednesdays. He is author of the popular book Travel Can Be Murder. Visit his site at http://www.appliedpsychology.com or e-mail him at terry@ticked.com.