Fire on the flight deck is the least of your concerns.

• Author: Peters, Charles
• Position: TILTING at windmills

Another thing that inspires worry about NASA's current leadership is the way they have handled a survey of commercial and general aviation pilots about safety concerns. When the Associated Press first asked NASA to release the report, they refused, saying that "publication might affect the public's confidence in airlines," a statement that did not tend to inspire confidence in either the airlines or NASA. Demand grew for the report's release. NASA finally published it. The only problem is that it has more redactions than even Dick Cheney's office would dare attempt. But the redacted report contains just enough evidence of pilot fatigue, even...