Under normal conditions, the specter of flight safety never enters my mind.
This is especially true since my company provides AccuClave autoclave thermocouples to most of the world’s composite part manufacturers. Between the quality assurances we put into our composite curing thermocouple systems and the fact that I get to see the detail and determination that is involved in producing safe aircraft, I am typically quite confident about flying.
Recently, a dimple was put in my faith a few days after the Germanwings copilot flew an Airbus 320 into the Alps. My early morning United Airlines Boeing 737 flight was from New Orleans to Newark. Much to my surprise (dare I say horror?), every TV channel on the seat back screens showed mountain side debris fields with ‘experts’ deciphering known facts and speculating profusely when the facts needed to be conjured up.
Give me a break! This is clearly not the reassurance I want before takeoff. The window passenger sitting next to me in Row 2 appeared upset and more than once mentioned out loud about his being fearful.
The mind wonders (and wanders) at such times. Was it time for me to say that flying is safer than every mode of transportation including walking? Was it time for me to point out that there were two mechanics in the cockpit changing out an overhead panel?
Hmmmm. Maybe if I began expounding about vacuum leak prevention under the vacuum bag or elimination of erratic readings of parts thermocouples, I would have been able to put my seatmate at ease.
I never got the opportunity.
Almost as if on cue, the copilot stepped into the front cabin and started to tell us how well he felt today. Everything was good at home. He was fine and happy. Don’t be concerned since at United there are always two people in the cockpit, even when one of the pilots uses the lavatory. And he ended by saying that both he and the Captain were very excited today because they would finish up the day in St Thomas Virgin Islands where they had a 30-hour layover with an all-inclusive stay right on the beach. “How great is that?!” he exclaimed.
Clearly, he had plans on making it safely to that destination.
His impromptu speech was not read from notes or recited from memory. It was a heartfelt few sentences from a copilot who truly understood how concerned his passengers might be and, as if speaking to close friends, he wanted to put us at ease.
Row 2 started to feel more assured – window and aisle.
A few minutes later the Captain stepped into the cabin and told us that everything was fine up front. He introduced himself and said that the flight would be uneventful and maybe even a little early to land. He reaffirmed that there were always two people in the cockpit and not to worry. The Captain then made a similar message from the flight deck over the intercom reassuring the entire plane.
Flying over 200,000 miles per year, I normally ‘tune-out’ the pilot blurbs.
Not this time. These two pilots certainly understand flight safety and so do we at TE Wire & Cable.
By the way, the breakfast was very good by airline food standards.
Planning to attend Aviation Week’s MRO Americas in Miami, FL on Apr 14-16? Visit booth 2004 and see the AccuClave thermocouple systems for aviation composites curing.
Learn more:
4 Ways to Meet Increased Demands on Aerospace Autoclave Applications
Dr. TC's Cure for Autoclave Thermocouple Reversed Polarity