PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Incompetence in professional aviation
View Single Post
Old 10th January 2004 | 09:41
  #19 (permalink)  
Earthmover

Humus Motor
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: A little place called Samsonite
A hundred years ago (well, seems like it) a Captain flew me below Decision Altitude ('height' in those days of QFE) in fog on a manual ILS. I was very new to the game, but even with a certain new-boy timidity and deference I was getting very vocal - "It's OK -I have the lights" he responded, and even though I certainly didn't, I was fool enough to believe him - until he proved his black lie by throwing our 50 seat turboprop into a rapid left bank to land on the runway which was now sliding past on the left hand side of the aircraft. Typically, the landing was an utterly undeserved greaser. He then looked at me, crimson-faced through his bushy beard and had the effrontery to say "Well done!" - to me - who had taken no active part in this lamentable display whatever.

I have kicked myself ever since for not taking over at DA, but I think that was easier said than done for a brand-new two-striper.

There were some great characters in those days, some of breathtaking flying ability - but there was also a little group of these types, who seem, thankfully to have gone completely - I hope.

Now that's incompetence!
Earthmover is offline