Cathay Shows What’s Important in the Cockpit

Pilots make mistakes. That’s usually not a problem because there are enough checks and balances in flight procedures to ameliorate the risks. What is a problem is when aviators lie about, or cover up, their errors.

When Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. decided this week to remove three cadet pilots from its US training program, it wasn’t because of the trainees’ competence, or possible lack of it. Instead, the Hong Kong flag carrier highlighted the importance of a crucial ingredient on the flight deck: integrity. It’s the right move for an airline that has come under fire for the way it has treated staff — especially pilots — and goes some way toward rebuilding a sense of trust among employees and the public.