> I never talk back for I have regrets,

“Bad ol’ days” is EXACTLY correct.

I bet we could find a THOUSAND accidents among the US FAA investigations preventable if somebody “spoke up” on the flight deck when things started to “go sideways”, but long before “the monster was loose in the hold”.

And what about “Pilot in Command”? Is that a “touchy subject”, too?

Is that always the “Pilot flying”, or is it necessarily the flight’s captain, who, AFAIK, ultimately carries final authority and responsibility for the craft, the flight and everyone aboard.

The job of the co-pilot is to watch the computer and feed the dog until the captain is finished eating his fish dinner and knocking back Tequila shots and Barcardi 151 and Coke.

Also, on 747s, it’s the captain’s responsibility to ensure cabin crew “satisfaction” with the “entertainment” features of the crew’s “attic”.

Also, the captain has to make the announcement “This Is Your Captain Speaking”.

How about “flight crew”?

Does that serve the purpose of non-hierarchically specifying “Those Persons Who Tell The Computers Where To Fly the Plane?”

From the back of the cabin, where we spend our hours watching pilot training vids on youTube, you “guys” [in the gender-neutral sense] only get to fly when things get a) interesting, b) *really* interesting or c) terrifying.

From back here, where most flights seem *mighty* dull, you guys spent all those training years and simulator hours merely waiting to leap into action.

Just between us gurls, do you sometimes hope for something “interesting” happening on a long flight? Maybe dream of doing a few barrel rolls, or inverted flight, or practice some spin recovery or inverted stall recovery or maybe buzz the grazing cows?

Wouldn’t that be lovely fun for everyone concerned?

Or so I’ve heard…

If the prize on offer is yet to be claimed, this attentive (and entertained) reader will be happy to take it off your hands.