Originally Posted by
Centaurus
:
Ah! Yes!. The dreaded "startle factor" is the new get out of jail free card.
No centaurus, it's not a get out of jail free card .it's the name of a condition which prevents people from acting in an optimal manner . In WW1 troops who suffered startle were shot for cowardice. Luckily we have moved on .It's the reason why I can always make the perfect decision of what someone should have done, and how they should have done it when I read an incident report . And also why I might not always walk the walk if in the operating seat. No-one goes to work wanting to have an incident . Nor had this crew until it happened .
As I said, there is lots to learn from reports like this . But to learn from them you need to read them in a “How could this have occurred” mindset . To just say no-one was minding the shop is missing the whole point .
Anyone, good or bad can have a bad day. Learning from others having a bad day out is far better than learning first hand.