Originally Posted by
casual observer
I think human nature causes those who appreciate the information from the cockpit to be overtly complimentary and for those that don't care for it to remain silent. Something along the lines of "if you have nothing nice to say..." So, my take is that most people in the back have flow plenty and just want to get where they are going on time. They only want to know if something is going to delay them or affect them. The push for us to be more communicative is based on incomplete information. If you believe in the idea of treat other people how you want to be treated, ask yourself how much you care about what the pilots have to say when you deadhead. For me, it is an unwelcome distraction.
That being said, the bottom line is this: say whatever you want to say. You are a pilot and have earn the right to 'do the pilot thing'.
I absolutely get what you are saying. I don't like it either when I'm in the middle of Mad Money and the PA starts and he drones on about altitude and ride and route of flight and all that. ESPECIALLY if we have TVs back there. (Although I still like looking out the window now and again). What I am primarily referring to is right before takeoff, and we have that "sterile" PA:"flight Attendants prepare for departure". I just think it is important to engage those that pay our salaries just a tiny little bit and let them know we are human too. I absolutely DESPISE that robo PA that NWA bought on the 757s that automatically, and within a nanosecond of turning on the seatbelt light, makes a PA to return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. I think it is cheap sounding.
Bottom line is that guys are gonna do what they are gonna do. As a passenger, I prefer a
little personality and engagement from the guys flying the airplane. The guys that don't want to do that, are not gonna do it no matter the pro/con argument and vice versa. But all this fear mongering about sterile cockpit comes across as paranoia, imho.