I always find it a bit odd when some people on a flight applaud when their plane touches down. I’m not talking about a trip where something abnormal happens or severe turbulence. Just a normal flight and Captain Sully up front brings the aluminum bird in just fine. Clap, clap, clap. A routine airplane ride and there’s a smattering of hand claps. Maybe when commercial airline travel was in its infancy and there wasn’t a strong safety record I could see where people would be happy they made it to point B safe and sound but we’re decades in now and air travel is no doubt the safest way to go. What other mode of transportation can boast zero fatalities over a year while moving millions of people? Answer: Airplanes. The reason I’m bringing this up is because I recently read in the New York Times a profile on Stephanie Johnson. Stephanie has been a commercial pilot for 20 years and currently a captain at Delta Air Lines. It is worth noting that Ms. Johnson is the first African-American woman with the rank of captain at Delta and before that with Northwest Airlines. Several times she got applause when she landed which I think would be insulting. I like when i get on a plane and see there’s a female pilot. I’ve noticed something with female pilots versus male. You’re headed down the taxiway and cleared for takeoff right before you’re at the runway, a male pilot will do what I call “turn it and whip it” which means he’ll start revving the engines before he’s on the runway and just whip around the corner and takeoff. A female pilot when taxing and cleared for takeoff will get on the runway…stop…double check everything and then takeoff. I like that. Back to Ms. Johnson, she related a story of when she was working for a regional carrier and an elderly woman saw her and was reluctant to fly on her plane. Now I don’t know if it was because Stephanie is a woman, African-American, or both, but you can see where some people aren’t quite 21st century yet. No doubt that woman’s whole life has pretty much been controlled by old white guys. Let me end quoting Ms. Johnson, “I marvel every time at the fact that I can make more than 100,000 pounds of material fly in the Airbus A321. When we are leveled off cruising and just above the clouds, it still thrills me. You feel the speed of the aircraft because you’re passing stationary clouds at speeds of about 500 miles per hour. And when you make a nice landing, it feels great.” And I say no applause necessary. Good day ma’am.

Peace,
Garry