Seggy
Well-Known Member
Taken from the New York Times today...
To the Editor:
In light of Thursday’s heroism by the flight crew of US Airways Flight 1549, I suggest that it is time for the flying public to inspect the way flight crews, pilots and flight attendants are treated by their respective airlines. For many years, retirements have been stolen, salaries have been pillaged and airlines have merged mercilessly, belittling the highly skilled and impassioned professionals to whom so many millions of us entrust our lives.
For too long, we have blindly accepted, and thus expected, unrealistically low airfares, while airlines trimmed service, eventually reducing their employees — yes, the pilots and flight attendants who save lives — to overworked and underpaid versions of their former selves.
I’m not sure that I elevate Thursday’s events to the “miracle” status mentioned by many as much as I am struck by the gallantry and competence of well-trained professionals.
Kathryn L. Keene
North Conway, N.H., Jan. 16, 2009
The writer was a US Airways flight attendant for 31 years and a training instructor for three years.