If this bill passes it will do little to increase professionalism in the cockpit because as an active international pilot, I can tell you that we are very focused on the task at hand. You can rest assured that the level of professionalism is already at high levels. Having someone monitor our conversations for hours on end will not help. It will simply give the listener an earful into our marriages and relationships…things we talk about after the jet has been safely put on autopilot for the long flight over the Atlantic.

Years ago, after an incident, the airlines began testing us for drugs and alcohol. Guess what they found? Very few pilots tested positive.

Years ago, after an incident, the airlines began requiring us to have increased security checks. Guess what they found? No pilots were carrying weapons on board.

This will just be a waste of time for whoever will be monitoring thousands of flights.

I realize that recent events do nothing to help people who fear flying and those who focus on it may actually increase their fear. Those who never had a fear of flying may even develop one.

As someone who is called upon by t.v. and radio media to comment on these types of unusual incidents, I tell it like it is.

I think the company should have the option to record the cockpit if they suspect a problem (and have it cleared through the union). Really, who cares what the pilots talk about? As long as they take off, don’t hit anything, and land safely, WTF do I care? For that matter what does the company care?

My question is, why is this even a congressional issue? I think that this be worked out between the unions and the company. And shouldn’t Sen. DeMint be working on something more worthwhile, like health care, the economy, the wars…?

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This is what I was getting at. As you outlined it would however be a smarter idea to install a secondary recording device so as not to tamper with the very important Black Box

No, it’s not–at least compared to the rest of the world. We can go where we want, when we want. We can own guns and take them most places. Our police are required to have warrants. Our constitution exists to protect personal freedoms. The only situation I can think of where my personal freedoms are limited in the United States in the name of security is at the airport–where I have to take off my clothes and allow my belongings to be searched to travel.

It is perfectly legal today for airlines to record and monitor cockpit and cabin conversations federally. Some states have issues with recording conversations without consent (Washington) but no states ban video recording or real-time, non-recorded audio monitoring. Furthermore, recording conversations on interstate flights is likely an activity where the Commerce Clause would allow FAA regulations to preempt state laws. Airlines can do this now – it's legal!!!! (and, the government can't – wouldn't be able to even if this bill Did pass…)

This bill makes no sense because airlines have accessibility to their aircraft (they own them), and may install listening devices today. They will not violate any constitutional rights to privacy because 1) they are not the government, and 2) no employees, professional or not, have a reasonable expectation of privacy from their employers while at work.

The bill may actually harm, however, because allowing airlines to tamper and extract from Black Boxes endangers the integrity of data accessible after an accident. The Black Box's integrity is paramount in determining the cause of aircraft accidents.

Also I read that they can listen to the conversation not take away the anonymity of the reporter. If you are concerned about saftey, once an annomous report is made with the new bill, the report can be confirmed and corrective action taken. Not just a check mark made on some report about a potential problem that was annomously reported.