The Pilots of Northwest Airlines Flight 188 from San Diego to Minneapolis, Capt. Timothy B. Cheney, 53, and First Officer Richard I. Cole, 54, had their licenses revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration today.
Both pilots deny being asleep durring the flight, but admit there was "a concentrated period of discussion where they did not monitor the airplane or calls" from air traffic control. Cheney has over 20,000 flight hours, Cole has 11,000.
"Each pilot accessed and used his personal laptop computer while they discussed the airline crew flight scheduling procedure," the report said. "The first officer, who was more familiar with the procedure, was providing instruction to the captain."
