Originally Posted by
Distant Voice
The BoI report fails to mention the 1998 TART report and its recommendation to reinstall the auto wing sweep and manoeuvre system. A system that would have reduced the pilot's workload and ensured the correct wing/slat setting. It was being used very successfully in Saudi Arabia at the time of the accident.
DV
The AWSMDS, while successful for the RSAF, didn't work well for the RAF. Aircrew weren't content to rely on the system and used to override the mechanism. Unfortunately this wore out the clutch mechanism and after several defect investigations, the RAF decided to render the AWSMDS inoperative on RAF aircraft.
A colleague at the time had the opportunity to try the accident flight profile in a simulator and found it almost impossible to avoid CFIT with the same flight parameters. The same profile was quite safe if the speed was increased by 100kts.
EAP