Pilot error

[CAflyer]

So since it seems like most of the crashes that do happen are pilot error how do you make us control freaks feel like giving up control completely to a pilot and not worry? Dose it seem like pilots are watched more carefully and trained better these days from what they have learned in other accidents?

[CAflyer]

also... now that planes are a lot of fly by wire and auto pilot you see accidents where the auto pilot or computers did something weird and the pilots, if lucky, recover. Do you think it is better we have all this technology or was it better when pilots had complete control over the mechanics. I am sure there are good and bad of each style but just want to know opinions.

[CanarsieApproach]

Maybe some improvement also is because of the end of the "Captain is God" syndrome. I think they call it Cockpit Resource Management. If a co-pilot thinks or sees something off, then he speaks up.

I recall the Tenerife crash, the co-pilot and flight engineer are tentatively questioning whether or not the Pan Am plane was off the runway. I think nowadays they might have been more assertive.

[Captain Hutch]

CAflyer,

You have brought up an interesting area of discussion and one that certainly deserves attention. And one that I have thought a lot about, because there are many facets of this subject that require examination.

But fortunately you only ask my opinion. By the way, you could say that I am one of the oldest airline pilots flying, since my 60th birthday was in February and before that those guys had to retire if they were 60 before December 14, 2007.

I believe that overall the airplanes are mechanically safer and the pilots are better trained than before. Personally I notice that the training I have received over the years has clearly improved. Advanced technology has been a plus for aircraft design. The CRM (Crew Resource Management) that CanarsieApproach (that sounds familiar!) is an improvement in how the crew operates an aircraft.

Like CAFlyer, I am a control freak. I want to know what's happening at all times, why it is happening, if it is happening in a way that I don't like that it is happening, why is it happening that way. And that applies to the situation around me as well as the aircraft itself. It is somewhat of an aggressive attitude, but one that is required to conduct a safe operation. I think most pilots will agree with this. You don't find too many experienced captains who just sit back and "let it happen". If you are just sitting there, "Fat, Dumb and Happy" as the saying goes (I guess as an amateur linguist I need to find the origin of that saying), then you are probably headed for an undesirable situation. CRM training has been effective in getting rid of the overbearing captains, so I think that most captains nowadays are able to accept and evaluate the information that comes their way, and most copilots (and flight attendants!) are able to express their opinions without fear of reprisal.

In regard to the actual aircraft, I love the control factor that I have with the old 737. Right now, my airline has a mix of these and the fly-by-wire airbus for instance. Personally I am not interested in sitting on a flying computer, but many of the pilots I know that had the same feeling that I had and have now moved to the airbus, have gotten used to it and love it.

I think the key is that you maintain a situational awareness of the entire system, that is the aircraft itself (including the cabin of the aircraft), the air traffic control system, the weather, the other aircraft out there, the possible situations that can develop, your crew, and even your own personal limitations.

Well, I hope that helps a little!

Hutch :tiphat:

[Barb-SAN]

If you are just sitting there, "Fat, Dumb and Happy" as the saying goes (I guess as an amateur linguist I need to find the origin of that saying), then you are probably headed for an undesirable situation....Hutch :tiphat:





Lots of "hits" if you Google "Fat, Dumb, and Happy"... :D...here's one for pilots, related to situational awareness http://books.google.com/books?id=fHB0iMIK_kgC&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=fat,+dumb+and+happy+origin+of+phrase&source=web&ots=sBMZlz7RMM&sig=2BgFRukb2gCWgcXVsmoVebd4gII&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA3,M1
from the Book "Situational Awareness" by Paul A. Craig and Tony Kern With up to 80% of accidents attributed to pilot error, this new series is critically important. It identifies and examines the ten top areas of concern to pilot safety. Each book contains real-life pilot stories drawn from FAA/NASA databases, valuable "save-yourself" techniques and an action agenda of preventive techniques pilots can implement to avoid risks. It seems the phrase has been around for a long time...at least back to WWII.

I also found it in a list of Australian military slang;http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Australian_military_slang

Fat, dumb and happy – To be complacent or less than vigilant.
Of course "situational awareness" is a valuable skill for all of us, whether walking down the street or driving our cars. (Case in point...new law in California regarding requirement to use hands-free devices for cell phone calls while driving: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25379642/ )....a good reminder to us to not be "fat, dumb, and happy" drivers either....and watch out for those who are. That's an aspect of our lives where we DO have somewhat more control than as passengers in a plane.

[Falcon]

Pregnant cabin crew.
:D

[CAflyer]

Thanks for the reply. Happy birthday! 60 is young nowadays!