Originally Posted by
Consol
Re Tenerife. One version is that the KLM Capt was not in fact the CRM monster he has been portrayed as despite his terrible misjudgement. It was possibly an example of what happens when you have a management pilot overly keen to be a good company man. A great many lessons learnt and still to be learned from that awful day.
This is a good point. The KLM Captain had not flown on the line in the preceding 12 weeks, he was mostly management and a training Captain in the simulator. So one perspective to the accident was that he was simulator-oriented, especially when commencing the takeoff with very little regard for ATC clearance.
In terms of the authority; the Captain had a very high rank and reputation, possibly strong personality, moderate experience (11,700 hours with 1545 on type), but very limited recent experience (12 weeks since last line flight). In addition he had given the FO his check ride and wings.
So the cockpit gradient appeared very steep, and because of these factors it is understandable. The lack of recent line experience was perhaps hidden or not appreciated. Also it is very human that if someone has high rank and reputation, he begins to believe in it himself and act in accordance, further increasing the effect.
Uplinker I agree that virtually every FO will have these encounters and ponder how to deal with them. CRM possibly offers a few tools, but not all the answers. For a new FO it is very difficult to question an autocratic CDR, because he lacks the experience, to have reference that something is abnormal or risky. For an experienced FO this is possible, but not pleasant. Although to a large part this depends on the organizational culture and maturity. Can the FO question without being afraid of consequences from not only the CDR, but the organization.