No Hazard in the Cockpit

I would like to comment upon Peter Greenberg’s article of Feb. 22, but would first like to mention that I am a flight attendant with a major air carrier. Greenberg’s column so often deals with the airline business, it is the first thing I look for in the Travel Section. His pieces are informative, sometimes controversial, and I find frequently stimulate conversation among crew members. His articles are even clipped out and posted in the crew lounge for others to read.

However, I am concerned about Rep. Collins’ implications that because someone has a drunk driving record that it automatically follows that that person is then a hazard in the cockpit.

In 20 years of working for an airline I have never seen a pilot come to work intoxicated. I have seen some drink too much on time off and I know that some have had serious alcohol problems. I’ve seen many helped through employee assistance programs but I have never seen or heard of one who ever even expected to fly an aircraft while under the influence. These are not individuals alone flying commercial aircraft, they are crew members, a part of a team. It is simply not allowed to occur.

My thanks to Greenberg for his many informative articles and for bringing the issues up for discussion.

SUSAN MARSHALL OPEL

Hermosa Beach