Kaptin M.
From the Koru Club.
Nice problem.
1. Dropping the cloth and trying to pick it up while moving is a training issue regardless of the circumstances.
Whether it is a termination issue depends on a hell of a lot of variables:
2. Had she been put any pressure to operate the flight against her own objections?
3. I'm assuming you are describing a single pilot operation. But was it planned as single pilot, or did some last minute problem turn it into one?
4. What was her experience of single pilot operations in poor weather? What was her experience of the Conquest? If experience of a/c and/or conditions and/or single pilot ops were limited what were the circumstances under which her employer despatched the flight?
5. Was the windscreen fogging because of an equipment falure? If so was it known or unknown prior to starting up? Were there any other equipment failures known in advance or not - such as with nosewheel steering?
6. Apart from any of the above had there been any other disputes or problems during the pre-flight period?
7. How long had she been on duty at the time of the incident? Had she exceded her duty hours?
8. Had she any record of mistakes or lapses of a similar nature?
9. Were there any other reports of similar incidents at that point of the taxiway in any conditions? Why was the aircraft running DOWNHILL into the drain?
10. Were there any personal reasons why her employer would want to default to termination without investigation?
11. Was Ansett still flying at the time? If not, why not?