Smoke Hoods for Air Passengers

The column (“The Chance to Live and to Tell About It,” by Lew Irwin, Commentary, Feb. 13) about installing smoke hoods on airplanes mentioned some startling statistics. It’s amazing that 22 of the 89 people aboard the USAir jet in the crash at Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 1 may have lived if there had been a way to save them from asphyxiation. If smoke hoods had been installed on the ill-fated jet, those people could still be alive today.

Now that the Gulf War has started, terrorism may be at an uprise, and it is possible that airplane crashes may be the result. But, be it an act of terrorism, or a problem with the plane itself, people should not have to die due to asphyxiation if there is equipment available to prevent it.

As a person with a fear of flying, I welcome any new safety measures that are implemented. I hope that the Federal Aviation Administration and the airline executives take a closer look at the potential that the smoke hoods have. They could save many lives in the future. (Airlines may have more customers who are afraid of flying, too.)

DANA MILLER

West Hills