Martytravels, if you're not Middle Eastern, why take offense at Gotribe's comment? I thought it was pretty funny (but true!)

No I'm not Middle Eastern but I'm a HUMAN BEING so I find insults of another human being's ethnicity offensive. You don't have to be a member of a particular ethnic group to be offended by an ethnic insult. Or at least I don't, maybe you do.

Excuse me, remember 9/11? Thousands of people killed? Most terrorists are of "that" ethnic background so there is a stigma about them. I'm not the only one who feels this way.

Good grief, I had a feeling that's where you were going....
So I guess we should have similar feelings about people of Timothy McVeigh's (the Oklahoma City bomber) ethnic background, or perhaps all white teenage boys (ala Columbine) are to be feared 'cause they're going to gun us all down.
There are millions of people of Middle Eastern background all over the world. Why base opinions of a whole group of people on one incident?

I don't have anything personal against M.E. people as a whole, but I wouldn't feel comfortable if my pilot looked like Osama bin Laden!!

I guess a pilot who looked like the Unabomber would make you more comfortable.

If you feel good about M.E. people, fine. You don't have to agree with me, and a lot of people don't share your opinion either. Opinions are personal.
Now let's get on with our jobs.

My impression was that in most jetliners today computers do most of the flying (e.g. autopilot).

Should we be looking/asking about how big the hard drive is?

Thanks for changing the subject, John D.

And make sure the hard drive isn't wearing a turban.

You know, sometimes it's the posts you'd never imagine which turn out to be the ones with "legs."

John,
Maybe not how BIG but how long it will last

I want my pilots to be male naval trained aviators. Age makes no difference as long as they meet the previous qualities.

by the way, my turban comment was a joke.

I like turbans. I like ponytails. I like puppies. I like the fact that computers fly our airplanes, although I wish Mr. Spock were standing by just in case something went awry with the computer.

I'm always tempted to ask the pilot how much sleep he's had the night before.

I prefer to see and older pilot thinking that he would have more experience than a younger one. In terms of women pilots, I have to admit that I am so used to seeing male pilots and that if I saw a female pilot I might think that if there were an emergency, could she be able to handle it as well as a male pilot. I am not trying to be sexist, but in general women tend to panic more in an emergency situation than men. Of course this is a generalization that does not apply to everyone.

It's a generalization that is well supported by the public. I'm sure all passengers would feel some concern,or even curiosity if they saw 2 females enter the cabin of any flight. They would be lying if they said otherwise.

Yeah, might even have to change the name to "person"pit with two female pilots.

I disagree with your assumption that the public would not feel as comfortable with a woman pilot as with a man. To break into a man's world, these women have had to prove themselves to be worthy, and as you can see here, are still proving themselves. Their talents, desire, dedication, study, I believe to be superior and a cut above or they would not be where they are.

Well said, CD!

I have no problem with women pilots.

(we are in the 21st century, aren't we?)