Like Ogsplash, I have not previously commented on Smith’s rantings, so as not to legitimize their credibility.
However, his latest effort regarding the QF incident really is completely over the top, and an outrageous and objectionable insult to all aviation professionals.
With this latest missive, Smith unequivocally reveals yet again, but this time even more clearly, his total amateurish, and abysmal ignorance of airline operations, air safety investigation, aviation systems, and aerospace technology.
And this is the man who ‘advises the Government’ on aviation.
With this kind of ‘advice’ it is easy to understand the reasons for the present NAS debacle.
Smith states:
‘Qantas were flying 1,600ft below the minimum safe altitude in darkness, playing a form of Russian roulette with the mountains which could have been 600ft higher than the altitude of the aircraft. Yes, I agree that at the time the Terrain Warning Unit alarm went off the ground was 2,500ft below. This was just luck. There could have been a mountain right in front of the aircraft’.
The statement would be laughable if it were not so pathetically, and tragically, ignorant.
This sensationalist rubbish comes from the ‘aviation authority’ the media so often turns to, no doubt in search of an instant headline.
To draw an analogy, if the Australian media wanted authoritative information on brain surgery, would they turn to a bloke who has taught himself a bit about first aid?
Luck had absolutely nothing to do with the QF incident. First class systems, good airmanship, and adherence to SOPs did. At no stage were the aircraft and its occupants in any danger.
His statements above show quite clearly that Smith has no knowledge whatsoever of the EGPWS system with which the QF B737 was equipped.
The aircraft’s EGPWS system contains a highly accurate terrain and obstacle database, and, using GPS-based references, it knows precisely where the aircraft is at all times in relation to terrain and obstacles. EGPWS warnings are activated accordingly, and appropriately.
The EGPWS system is perfectly aware if ‘there is a mountain in front of it’.
Russian Roulette? Blundering around at night? Luck? Only a fool would make such stupid claims.
Such statements are doubly tragic in their demonstrated ignorance of the real world of airline operations by a high profile adviser to the government. They are frightening evidence of the appalling level of quality of that advice. Worst of all, these kind of statements disseminate self-serving, destructive, scare-mongering and malevolent misinformation about aviation to the general public, the vast majority of whom have no specialist knowledge by means of which they could judge the veracity of such ridiculous, false and defamatory assertions.
As all professional and informed aviation people know, the EGPWS (Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System) was introduced into commercial aviation largely as an outcome of the investigation of the AA B757 CFIT accident that occurred near Cali, in Colombia, on 20 December, 1995.
For its development of EGPWS, AlliedSignal Aerospace, Commercial Systems Division, won the Flight International Aerospace Industry Award in the Air Transport category in 1997.
Quoting from the citation:
"The EGPWS, which won US certification in 1996, integrates the latest advances in navigation and terrain-database technology, together with the traditional benefits of GPWS.
By doing this, the new system provides a full 60s advanced warning of hazardous terrain. A conventional GPWS may give pilots as little as 10s to take avoiding action. The system is also the first to allow pilots to select a visual display of hazardous terrain below and ahead of the aircraft - crucial in poor visibility or darkness".
The EGPWS system is designed to ensure that, if an aircraft should come into potential conflict with terrain or obstacles, due, for example, to data entry errors made by the crew, phased alerts and warnings are provided in ample time to ensure the complete safety of the aircraft. The ATSB report shows that this is exactly what happened in the present QF incident.
(More information on EGPWS can be found at:
http://www.egpws.com/general_informa...n/features.htm)
Despite the ill-informed and sensationalist media reports stoked by Smith, the safe outcome of the QF incident was not luck; it demonstrated precisely what error tolerant systems in aviation are all about.
As for the absurd allegations regarding the ATSB, they are simply yet more hard evidence of the true nature and personal agenda of the writer. If there are any doubts about the objectivity, independence, courage and integrity of BASI/ATSB, have a careful read of the Systemic Investigation of the G Airspace Demonstration at:
http://www.atsb.gov.au/aviation/sdi/gspace.cfm.
Previous evidence shows that Smith will never admit he was wrong, apologise, or issue any correcting statements on the QF incident, or any other aviation matter, regardless of the facts.
Ogsplash is spot on. It really is time Smith went as far away as possible, and let the true informed professionals in airline, government, military and general aviation organisations get on with the vital job of keeping Australian aviation safe, efficient, innovative and profitable.