Really Dumb Things They Said
United Airlines Will Make Sure Their Flight Deck is Diverse

Hello, and welcome to ATP’s, Really Dumb Things, They Said. I’m Barry Nussbaum. You know, when you get on a plane, and you’re concerned about getting there safely. All you really care about is how competent the pilot is and, secondarily, the copilot. Well, that’s not the way it is a United Airlines anymore.
As of now, United will make sure that at least 50% of all prospective pilots coming through their academy are either black or female. “Our flight deck should reflect a diverse group of people onboard our planes every day. That’s why we plan for 50% of the 5,000 pilots we will train in the next decade to be women or people of color.”
So, I don’t know about you, but if I’m on a plane, I don’t care what color or sex the pilot or copilot is. I want to know that the best possible person, the most qualified person is upfront. I don’t feel better about the landing or the takeoff if the pilot is black, female, transgender, or whatever.
I just want the best-trained pilot money can buy. United seems to have forgotten that with their new dumb policy.