"Why didn't flight crew mention God?"

[Temporal Renegade]

A letter writer posted on mlive.com, asked why Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger didn't mention God when interviewed for 60 Minutes.

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/02/letter_why_didnt_flight_crew_m.html

The letter posted is short, but the opinions are interesting. :)

[Safe-Keeper]

However, we were struck there was not one mention of God, who directs pilots of planes and secures the safety of passengers.{insert photo from 9/11 here}

[Temporal Renegade]

{insert photo from 9/11 here}

To quote William Shatner, from Airplane II:

I guess Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes...

[timhau]

If god does airplanes, who is responsible for rail traffic safety?

http://carolynbaker.net/site/images/train%20wreck.jpg

[RossFW]

He also directs flocks of Geese into the paths of Airliners, so the Crew had to use there "God Given" skills to land the aircraft!!!

[Temporal Renegade]

"Why yes, God did save the plane and all of the passengers...of course, God also caused the plane to crash, by sending the geese into the engine, so I'm a little conflicted as to whether or not I should thank Him, or chew Him out..."

[Safe-Keeper]

"Why yes, God did save the plane and all of the passengers...of course, God also caused the plane to crash, by sending the geese into the engine, so I'm a little conflicted as to whether or not I should thank Him, or chew Him out..."Apologetics, 101: Disasters, responding to:

:stone033: Good outcome: God is great!

:stone033: Bad outcome: Praise God because the outcome wasn't worse
("it was only because of G_d that these thirty-four people
live while only twelve perished!").

:stone033: Really Bad outcome: God shouldn't intervene in the first place
because {insert arbitrary nonsense about Original Sin or Free Will
and robots here}.

[Shrike]

I don't know this site, but is it atheist/skeptic/agnostic whatchamacallit?
The reponses were, well not what I would have expected. Of course, I get 99% percent of my insight in Americans from this forum......

[Temporal Renegade]

Apologetics, 101: Disasters, responding to:

:stone033: Good outcome: God is great!

:stone033: Bad outcome: Praise God because the outcome wasn't worse
("it was only because of G_d that these thirty-four people
live while only twelve perished!").

:stone033: Really Bad outcome: God shouldn't intervene in the first place
because {insert arbitrary nonsense about Original Sin or Free Will
and robots here}.

:D :D

[joobz]

I think they need to check the flight recorder. I'm willing to be a couple of GDs were uttered when the engines blew.

[Safe-Keeper]

The reponses were, well not what I would have expected.Me neither. Colour me pleasantly surprised:).

[This Guy]

I didn't see the whole interview, but caught bits and pieces after the fact.

I kinda chuckled when what's her face asked the good Captain if he prayed during the emergency (not a quote, but the gist of the question).

He replied something along the line of: I figured someone in back was taking care of that.

I'd have been inclined to say, yes, I did 10 hail Mary's, and got on my knees and did an "Our Father who art in Heaven...", then we crashed, and we are all dead now.

[timhau]

I think they need to check the flight recorder. I'm willing to be a couple of GDs were uttered when the engines blew.

It is also possible that they tried to solicit sex at the time.

[joobz]

It is also possible that they tried to solicit sex at the time.
And decry the human excretory system.

[linusrichard]

I think they need to check the flight recorder. I'm willing to be a couple of GDs were uttered when the engines blew.
It is also possible that they tried to solicit sex at the time.
And decry the human excretory system.
Perhaps all in the same baffling sentence.

[Ocelot]

I think they need to check the flight recorder. I'm willing to be a couple of GDs were uttered when the engines blew.

From what I heard of the recording of the covnersation between the pilot and Air Traffic Control I'd be suprised if he cursed or swore. The pilot was amazingly cool, calm and collected.

zDhG3xaROUk&NR

[godless dave]

If god does airplanes, who is responsible for rail traffic safety?

http://carolynbaker.net/site/images/train%20wreck.jpg

God privatized rail service in the early 90s. Although widely perceived as a major mistake, political considerations prevent Him from backtracking on the issue.

[I Ratant]

On the other side of the world, the flight data recorder would have:" It's Allah's will. (crashing noises)"

[Big Les]

Funny. I took the letter to be parody. But who can tell?

[bickerer]

The ad to the right of the letter (at my time of viewing) was for the "Senokot
family of laxatives". How charmingly appropriate!

[PbFoot]

Just to clarify this a bit:

That was a recording of the Air Traffic Control tape, NOT the black box. The black box records all sounds on the flightdeck, not just radio transmissions. The black box recording is protected and never made available to the pubic (since about late 80s this has been the law). However, a typed transcript of the black box recording will eventually be made available by the NTSB.

Scully did his job well. Cool under pressure, thinking outside the box and saving lives. His flying that day was a masterpiece.

- PbFoot

[LarianLeQuella]

From what I heard of the recording of the covnersation between the pilot and Air Traffic Control I'd be suprised if he cursed or swore. The pilot was amazingly cool, calm and collected.

zDhG3xaROUk&NR

We actually have a day (and then repeated beatings by IPs) in AF Pilot Training on "Radio Discipline". A lot of it boils down to "ALWAYS sound cool on the radio." ;) I think it's really an aviation mindset that no matter what get's picked up by the CVR, the Radios are too public that bufoonery is not tolerated, no matter what.

I've always joked, that if I ever knew that I was about to crash, my last transmission would be, "Co, what the hell you'd do that for?" In a sort of lazy drawl. Let the NTSB figure that one out! :D

[KingMerv00]

Captain Sullenberger apparently is God. He saved the lives of 155 people.

[FramerDave]

Captain Sullenberger apparently is God. He saved the lives of 155 people.

Blasphemer! God put those geese in the engines to test his faith.

I suppose the pilot of the Continental flight last week was not so righteous.

[KingMerv00]

An oldie but goodie (http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=128614&title=Miracle-By-the-Highway).

[MG1962]

I think they need to check the flight recorder. I'm willing to be a couple of GDs were uttered when the engines blew.

Actually no. According to the co-pilot. Neither he or the pilot verbalised that much as a rule, so even during the emergency, the chatter between them was all professional and not a lot of it

On the question of God. The pilot was actually asked this question (CNN Interview?) His response was he concentrated on looking after getting the plane down, and assumed someone in the back had God and praying covered on his behalf

[joobz]

Actually no. According to the co-pilot. Neither he or the pilot verbalised that much as a rule, so even during the emergency, the chatter between them was all professional and not a lot of it
I gathered that. It was merely a joke.

[MG1962]

I gathered that. It was merely a joke.

Oh I appreciated that. Fact was the guys said nothing, no curse under the breath even. Just simply got on with it

I recall a British airlines pilot, lost all four engines at the same time flying over the Pacific. An interviewer asked what was said.

The pilot responded "Yes there were a few "gosh darns" Thrown around the cockpit :cool:

[ponderingturtle]

"Why yes, God did save the plane and all of the passengers...of course, God also caused the plane to crash, by sending the geese into the engine, so I'm a little conflicted as to whether or not I should thank Him, or chew Him out..."

Thank him of course, he does not tolerate criticism well.

[X]

Apologetics, 101: Disasters, responding to:

:stone033: Good outcome: God is great!

:stone033: Bad outcome: Praise God because the outcome wasn't worse
("it was only because of G_d that these thirty-four people
live while only twelve perished!").

:stone033: Really Bad outcome: God works in mysterious ways which we mortals cannot understand.


Fixed that for you.
The repair bill is $500 CDN. I accept credit cards, money orders, or gold bullion. Contact me to arrange payment.

[MattusMaximus]

Why didn't flight crew mention God?

That's funny. I didn't know that God was piloting the plane :rolleyes:

[Jackalgirl]

Here's the part that blows my mind:


However, we were struck there was not one mention of God, who directs pilots of planes and secures the safety of passengers.

We have written CBS and asked them for more realistic programming.



(Emphasis mine.) "Realistic"?

????

???

<head explodes>

[MattusMaximus]

Here's the part that blows my mind:

(Emphasis mine.) "Realistic"?

????

???

<head explodes>

You need one of these...

http://forums.randi.org/imagehosting/7747499fac01305cc.gif (http://forums.randi.org/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=15362)

[Miss_Kitt]

...
That was a recording of the air traffic control tape, not the black box. The black box records all sounds on the flightdeck, not just radio transmissions. the black box recording is protected and never made available to the pubic (since about late 80s this has been the law). however, a typed transcript of the black box recording will eventually be made available by the ntsb...

- pbfoot

:D

mk

[Jackalgirl]

pic removed

Urg. Very gross. You might want to hide that under an "NSFW" tag.

[Miss_Kitt]

BTW, probably at least part of the response being tilted to reason has something to do with PZ Myers having covered this on Pharyngula:

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/02/quote_of_the_day_1.php

Not having done timestamp and date compares, I am uncertain what the proportion might be of pre-PZ to post-PZ comments.

Regards, MK

[MattusMaximus]

Urg. Very gross. You might want to hide that under an "NSFW" tag.

I thought about that, but I don't know how. Help me, Obi Wan Kenobi...

ETA: Got it.

[Temporal Renegade]

See? This is what happens when God's just the co-pilot....