Posted on October 26, 2014 by Christina Halli
I am a working mom with two challenging jobs. I’m parenting a teenage boy with mental illness and I’m an airline pilot. The parenting job is much harder. I often say I would rather land my plane in the Hudson River with no engines, than undergo the tailspin of raising a child with bipolar disorder and social anxiety.
There are many reasons. I’ve been flying over 30 years and am well trained. In the air I have the assistance of a knowledgeable copilot, professional crew and a checklist. If I have a problem, I call maintenance, dispatch or the duty pilot. Once a year I practice every foreseeable emergency in a simulator and receive a check ride to assure my proficiency. When I am in command I know what to do.