Originally Posted by
DeadHead
So conversation is a distraction, but listening to music isn't. I respectfully disagree, it's important to keep situational awareness first and foremost, but to keep a zero tolerance, sterile cockpit procedure in play for the entire flight is extreme. I personally feel a little outside discussion between crewmembers is healthy to the cockpit environment during non-critical phases of flight. The human mind needs the occasional outside interaction, personally I believe it can be more fatiguing to strictly focus in on nothing other than your flight duties. I think it has something to do with Sensory Deprivation, if pilots can't talk they may start daydreaming, while also be more prone to falling asleep.
Yeah, and what the heck is Penetration???
I do believe there was a little sarcasm in his post. Like you I totally agree that social interaction is a must while at cruise if desired. Think about a transoceanic flight 14 hours at cruise with no conversation between three guys. Everyone just staring at something pushing buttons arbitrarily trying to look like they are doing something all for the camera. Not a healthy environment. However, I'd be a fool to not think there is someone out there working hard on ensuring us overpaid under worked bus drivers don't make a peep on the flightdeck. As far as laptops go, well I'm sure that's a done deal at all the remaining airlines that don't already have this in the company policies.
When all they hype came out about low-time pilots after the Colgan issue, I had a few rude passengers stick their heads in the door and blatantly ask if I had enough hours to fly this airplane. I understand their concern but c'mon. All I could say was "here's your sign". My last trip I had someone stick their head in the door and in a serious manner (not joking at all) tell us that we need to ensure them we will not be using our notebooks. Yeah, way to go NTSB and media. Getting pretty annoying if you ask me.