More Airline Fun!

Do I believe in God? Not sure. But I'll tell you this: we have this local doctor-pilot who has suffered three major crashes in the last decade or so and he is still walking around on 2 feet. Wonder if he believes?
 
Everskyward said:
This. Whether you say a personal prayer or not is up to the individual, but I don't think it's an appropriate thing for the pilot to ask an airplane full of passengers they don't know.
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My take exactly

I don't think the problem is with religion, but with the confidence you want to have in your flight crew. Even if just a facade the passengers should always feel like their captain is in control of the plane (even if she/he isnt). For what its worth, despite the relatively large perception of non believers and agnostics out there I would think just about everyone has said a prayer at one point or another in their lives..

Reminds me of an old submarine story I read a few years ago (can't find it now) and it was about leadership and strength under pressure. The writer of the story (the captain of the sub) wrote that he was basically scared ****less while they were getting relentlessly depth-charged, but that he wanted to maintain a calm and collected demeanor so he held up a book to make it look like he was reading.. well, as in turns out, one his senior mates (XO maybe?) whispered to him that his book was upside down...
 
Timbeck2 said:
Then I kiss her on the nose and thank her as well.
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I always say thank you to the plane after a safe arrival, it's a nice gesture. Especially club planes that get all the student abuse, I'm sure she (he, it, they?) appreciates the occasional thank you for bringing and my family back to earth safely
 
wsuffa said:
Article about an AirAsia flight that threw a rod... Er, blade... On one engine and "shook like a washing machine". Search online.
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It's worth noting that while a fan blade out is a big deal, it is also designed for. The bearings and supports of the engine and airframe are specifically designed to handle a fan blade out event and the resulting vibrations from the engine windmilling after shutdown.

While I'm sure it was not a pleasant experience for the passengers or crew and I can understand the resultant fear, the engineer who used to do turbine engines for a living wanted to make the public service announcement.
 
SkyDog58 said:
Oh, ok.
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I've decided that I'm going to see what it's like to be easily offended. It seems to be all the rage these days. I thought your post would make a good first attempt.
 
Cooter said:
I've decided that I'm going to see what it's like to be easily offended. It seems to be all the rage these days. I thought your post would make a good first attempt.
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Ah, never mind. It takes way more energy and effort than I was expecting.
 
Everskyward said:
This. Whether you say a personal prayer or not is up to the individual, but I don't think it's an appropriate thing for the pilot to ask an airplane full of passengers they don't know.
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That's very bigoted. I would *expect* a religious pilot would ask anyone interested to join them in prayer, and I would be free to join or not, because I respect people's religions. As long as their personal practice of the religion doesn't include human rights issues.

I expect people to be true to their religion if they have one, and don't expect them not to. That'd be incredibly rude of me not to.

Just because I don't *know* the religion of the pilot and wouldn't until they made the announcement, doesn't matter in the slightest.

Of course, I'd like them to complete the checklist and fly the plane first... but adding their personal request for prayer to the announcement (I haven't listened to the thing, since it really doesn't matter) doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I guess I'm all into "diversity" like that. Unlike some. LOL. Poke.

My own personal style would be Sully. Brace 3X. Ha. I have stuff to do up here. I'll thank Deities once I can get out and kiss the pavement. Ha.
 
denverpilot said:
That's very bigoted. I would *expect* a religious pilot would ask anyone interested to join them in prayer, and I would be free to join or not, because I respect people's religions.
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I respect other's religions, but I don't think this is a good idea in a professional setting.

I remember once when after giving the safety briefing the passengers wanted me to join them in prayer. I politely declined and said I had things to do up front. Actually they had me pretty speechless at the request.
 
Everskyward said:
I respect other's religions, but I don't think this is a good idea in a professional setting.

I remember once when after giving the safety briefing the passengers wanted me to join them in prayer. I politely declined and said I had things to do up front. Actually they had me pretty speechless at the request.
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Oh I agree I'd rather the surgeon be working to stitch the bleeding artery than asking for a moment of silent reflection, haha. Usually a cockpit with an emergency is a fairly busy place. Not panic and fast but a reasonable pace and doing the stuff that needs to get done.
 
Everskyward said:
I respect other's religions, but I don't think this is a good idea in a professional setting.
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A surgeon asked my wife and me if it was ok to pray for my daughter and the surgery before they took her away for the surgery. Do you think that was unprofessional?
 
Cooter said:
A surgeon asked my wife and me if it was ok to pray for my daughter and the surgery before they took her away for the surgery. Do you think that was unprofessional?
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In my opinion, it would depend if they knew you were religious. A pilot wouldn't know that about a plane full of passengers. I would be a little uncomfortable if a doctor said something about praying for me or a relative. I would answer in a courteous way but...
 
Everskyward said:
In my opinion, it would depend if they knew you were religious. A pilot wouldn't know that about a plane full of passengers. I would be a little uncomfortable if a doctor said something about praying for me or a relative. I would answer in a courteous way but...
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I don't know why you'd feel uncomfortable. If a doc is religious, I'd kinda like them to ask. Means they're being themselves and not really much else.

I don't need them pretending they're not religious for me. Their religion doesn't bother me, unless of course they're in a cult that harvests human hearts to give them to the Sun god or something. Haha.

A couple of docs I've seen probably would have appreciated a "Namaste" and responded in kind. But if they had said it first, it wouldn't bother me. Their religion is no threat to me and if anything just makes them more interesting people. Grew up somewhere else. Probably seen some interesting stuff I'll never see.

I see religious leaders get along when they meet for the most part and respect each other. If they can do it, I certainly can. It's not my place to demand someone not be themselves just because they also have a job. Everyone's got a job. Jobs are far less interesting than people. As long as they're doing their job, they can sit there and say thirty Hail Mary's while they're doing it.

Kinda goes along with growing up a military brat. They say there isn't anyone who isn't religious in a foxhole. Military folk usually figure out how to accept the guy or gal next to them in the foxhole even if they're a religious type. As long as they keep tossing lead downrange accurately into the enemy and watching their six, talk to whatever deity you like!

Might also be a touch of non-conformist too. I don't feel like I need a gold star for good behavior so much that I feel any need to conform to their request. If I don't want to pray with them, I'll just say so. No feeling of guilt in the slightest.

If they're praying to the "wrong" deity, I'd also be fine with saying, "You talk to yours and I'll talk to mine!" LOL.

It's just a total "don't care" for me. Not in the sense that I don't care at all (nihilism) but that whether they ask me to pray or don't, or anything related to their religion, just has zero effect on me.

You want kosher? Well, I've got burgers and hot dogs. If those don't work for ya, and something in the fridge does, you're welcome to it! Heh.

It's kinda like the old joke when someone is telling a story and gets tongue tied or stops because they think it might be "offensive". I'll joke with them, "It's your story! Tell it however you like!"
 
denverpilot said:
I don't know why you'd feel uncomfortable. If a doc is religious, I'd kinda like them to ask. Means they're being themselves and not really much else.

I don't need them pretending they're not religious for me. Their religion doesn't bother me, unless of course they're in a cult that harvests human hearts to give them to the Sun god or something. Haha.

A couple of docs I've seen probably would have appreciated a "Namaste" and responded in kind. But if they had said it first, it wouldn't bother me. Their religion is no threat to me and if anything just makes them more interesting people. Grew up somewhere else. Probably seen some interesting stuff I'll never see.

I see religious leaders get along when they meet for the most part and respect each other. If they can do it, I certainly can. It's not my place to demand someone not be themselves just because they also have a job. Everyone's got a job. Jobs are far less interesting than people. As long as they're doing their job, they can sit there and say thirty Hail Mary's while they're doing it.

Kinda goes along with growing up a military brat. They say there isn't anyone who isn't religious in a foxhole. Military folk usually figure out how to accept the guy or gal next to them in the foxhole even if they're a religious type. As long as they keep tossing lead downrange accurately into the enemy and watching their six, talk to whatever deity you like!

Might also be a touch of non-conformist too. I don't feel like I need a gold star for good behavior so much that I feel any need to conform to their request. If I don't want to pray with them, I'll just say so. No feeling of guilt in the slightest.

If they're praying to the "wrong" deity, I'd also be fine with saying, "You talk to yours and I'll talk to mine!" LOL.

It's just a total "don't care" for me. Not in the sense that I don't care at all (nihilism) but that whether they ask me to pray or don't, or anything related to their religion, just has zero effect on me.

You want kosher? Well, I've got burgers and hot dogs. If those don't work for ya, and something in the fridge does, you're welcome to it! Heh.

It's kinda like the old joke when someone is telling a story and gets tongue tied or stops because they think it might be "offensive". I'll joke with them, "It's your story! Tell it however you like!"
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I don't think you get what I am saying. I don't find other people's religions offensive. In fact I have accompanied friends to churches, synagogues, mosques, and shrines. However, I don't think asking people to pray to your god in a professional setting is a good idea, unless you know your audience agrees. I also don't make assumptions about other people's religions. I figure it's their business, not mine. I'm startled when people ask me out of the blue about my religious beliefs, or assume I am a certain religion, because I would never do that.
 
Everskyward said:
I don't think you get what I am saying. I don't find other people's religions offensive. In fact I have accompanied friends to churches, synagogues, mosques, and shrines. However, I don't think asking people to pray to your god in a professional setting is a good idea, unless you know your audience agrees. I also don't make assumptions about other people's religions. I figure it's their business, not mine. I'm startled when people ask me out of the blue about my religious beliefs, or assume I am a certain religion, because I would never do that.
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You politely declined when your pax asked you to join them in prayer. No harm, no foul. That's the great thing about prayer. You can choose to do it or not. No one is forcing anyone to to do it. I don't think the family was offended. If you want to pray. Great. If you don't, great. The world goes on!
 
denverpilot said:
It's just a total "don't care" for me. Not in the sense that I don't care at all (nihilism) but that whether they ask me to pray or don't, or anything related to their religion, just has zero effect on me.
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Bunny Lebowski: Uli doesn't care about anything. He's a Nihilist.

The Dude: Ah, that must be exhausting.

Bunny Lebowski: You're not blowing...
 
jordane93 said:
You politely declined when your pax asked you to join them in prayer. No harm, no foul. That's the great thing about prayer. You can choose to do it or not. No one is forcing anyone to to do it. I don't think the family was offended. If you want to pray. Great. If you don't, great. The world goes on!
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Who knows. They weren't just a family, though, they were 3 couples who head up a large religious organization based around here. Maybe I should finish my story. After the flight, which was a bit turbulent, I saw one of the women in the restroom. She told me, "God kept us safe". I thought that was a little humorous, but when I told the captain he blew up. LOL.

I am almost never offended by what people say to me, and people have made many somewhat awkward comments. When I tell stories like this, it's because I think they're amusing.
 
Everskyward said:
I don't think you get what I am saying. I don't find other people's religions offensive. In fact I have accompanied friends to churches, synagogues, mosques, and shrines. However, I don't think asking people to pray to your god in a professional setting is a good idea, unless you know your audience agrees. I also don't make assumptions about other people's religions. I figure it's their business, not mine. I'm startled when people ask me out of the blue about my religious beliefs, or assume I am a certain religion, because I would never do that.
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That is an unfortunate development in western culture. The culture largely assumes that religious beliefs should be private and that they are properly confined to personal and/or intimate relationships. This idea ignores the fact that religious beliefs often shape our views about those things we encounter culturally. It also seems to deny the reality that everyone has an underlying belief system that shapes their ideology, whether they consider it religious or not.
 
Kritchlow said:
While there is nothing wrong with praying, imo the crew asking the passengers to pray can cause fear and panic.
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I'm not against prayer, but I probably would have an increased concern if I heard Islamic chants coming from the cockpit.

I can't confirm the story but I heard from some military instructors that were training Saudi pilots that whenever things were going really bad, the students would sometimes throw up their hands and say the equivalent of "Allah wills it!!".
 
Cooter said:
I'm not against prayer, but I probably would have an increased concern if I heard Islamic chants coming from the cockpit.

I can't confirm the story but I heard from some military instructors that were training Saudi pilots that whenever things were going really bad, the students would sometimes throw up their hands and say the equivalent of "Allah wills it!!".
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So as long is it's *your* religion, it's OK, but not if it's someone else's. That's why I think religion is better kept out of arenas where you do not know your audience. Nothing wrong with discussing it, as we are doing here, but expecting others to believe the same thing you do is another matter.
 
It beats saying "kiss your ass goodbye" I guess ...

It would scare the **** out of me if the captain came over the speaker and said "everybody pray."
 
txflyer said:
It would scare the **** out of me if the captain came over the speaker and said "everybody pray."
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EXACTLY...that to me says that the pilot thinks it is out of his hands in only in his God's hands now. I do not care what God you pray for to strength and guidance inside or outside the cockpit and I totally respect that, but suddenly asking every other passneger to become religious or possibly kiss your arse goodbye because the pilot does not believe he can make it on his own is HIGHLY unprofessional....that is how I would perceive that if I heard it. For me has noting to do with being offended or of differing beliefs.

To me it is the same as getting on the com and saying "...we're F#@KED"
 
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