robert goyer's picture

With most CJs, the person who paid for the airplane is one in the left seat. Cessna is understandably interested in making him happy. So, Cessna does think about who pays for the airplane--the pilot--and it's the height of ignorance to think that it makes any sense for pilots--when they're not the owners--to be responsible for their moment-by-moment decision making process to the people in the back of the airplane.

allenh74's picture

Gordon Baxter once wrote that on final when he had to add power to maintain glidepath, he muttered, "we aren't going to make it". Meaning, not without adding power. Of course he was trying, like we all do, to come in with only reductions in power & was frustrated with himself that he had pulled off too much too early. BUT, his passenger nearly went nuts of course! After getting passenger to understand that he had NOT meant they were going to crash, he then did a more in depth explanation on the ground. But on short final, it was not the place to have to calm a panicked passenger.

With a wife who is still a nervous flyer, I have to manage passenger information very thoughtfully, so giving pilots some control over passenger information would be helpful in many situations.

Most or all CJs also have at least a curtain that can be used to close off the flight deck from the folks in back if needed too.

robert goyer's picture

God bless the person who came up with the idea for the curtain!

We miss Baxter! Thanks for the great post.