Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

Timbo,

Thanks for the information.

Pardon the vent ... but since we are on the topic. Our management does not seem to appreciate that flying is a little different job than the position they hold, with different sorts of responsibilities. Mr. Bastian might be able to come in the day after surgery, but are the decisions he makes nearly instantly irreversible with bent metal, a deviation, or a life in the balance?

Unlike manning a desk, there isn't a " <--- Backspace" on any airplane I've ever seen. Further, I don't know how many back to back all nighters Ed works which leave him in places where there is no place to eat, or if he shares a workspace with another executive seated 40 inches off his shoulder for 8 to 10 hours at a time. If he's a little under the weather and out of it he might say "uhm" more than normal while delivering a presentation. Perhaps he should consider that briefings are just a presentation while under motion, while operating machinery, reading AWABS, while talking to ATC getting clearances, running checklists, starting engines and talking to flight attendants ... mostly semi-simultaneously. They say humans don't multi task well ... how about a human with a head cold?

Further, do our executives obtain a medical for ongoing certification in their jobs?

IMHO, they fail to make a fair comparison. IMHO more pilots fly when they should not than sick out when they should fly (& maybe I'm a survey of one).