Originally Posted by
mach85
Just to keep all the onlookers in the know on what’s happening at CSA to help you make an informed decision.
Recently a foreign pilot was flying China-Europe and was in Minsk control. There was a shift change for the FO’s while the crew got cleared direct. As the FO change was happening the foreign pilot executed the ‘direct to’ by himself.
Later Minsk control asked where they were flying to. They checked and realised they had executed the wrong direct to so were slightly off route. Those who have flown this route will know that it’s pretty much a straight line anyway. Minsk controller was not in the slightest bit bothered and said not to worry. FO’s and the other Capt had other ideas though. They decided that they would ‘report themselves’ when they landed DESPITE the controller saying that for him was no problem at all.
The last I heard they were just 3nm off route so no big deal.
Crew were immediately grounded ‘pending investigation.’
Decision now is 6 months grounding for the crew in the office with NO PAY!!!! Just to rub salt in the wounds, the foreign pilot involved is EU based and is supposed to serve this punishment in Guangzhou despite having a young family in Europe. Yeah right........
Anyway just wanted to keep the facts coming for all the onlookers here. These kind of things are good to know before making any career decisions. Boy I wish I had known all this beforehand......
These kind of ‘non events’ are so easy on a red eye flight full of fatigue that they could happen to absolutely anybody.
Cheers,
Not specific to China Southern. It happened at Korean Air too. Local crew. Captain in the toilet. F/o heard clearance to climb to 9800m but was actually only cleared 8900m. F/O read back 9800m but ATC controller did not catch that mistake. Climb was initiated to 9800m set on the MCP. Passing 9300m, alert controller caught the level bust and ordered flight back to the correct flight level 8900m which the F/O hurriedly complied with. The crew apologized to the controller. As there was no conflict with any other traffic in the vicinity, the Chinese ATC controller decided to let the mistake slide and declared " no problem, no report to CAAC "
The Captain taught that it was the end of the matter and did nothing. The F/O decided to be super honest and went to verbally report to the chief pilot as some kind of precaution to other pilots of Chinese ATC not hearing or monitoring readbacks. Some kind of sharing unfortunate incident with lessons to be learnt.
The ambitious chief pilot took it upon himself to investigate, even communicating with the Chinese ATC to verify that the incident took place. The Chinese ATC confirm the incident but as no conflict with any other traffic took place they would not take it any further. However the chief pilot blew it up, initiated a safety violation enquiry insisting the Safety Department take punitive measures. End result, both pilots were grounded for 2 months with requirement to attend numerous technical and disciplinary inquiries, with the punitive measures of having to undergo several long winded safety classes.
So such sh
it happens in Korea, China and I believe in Jan and Taiwan too!