Continuation of pilot's testimony, plus a few extra bits from the Cyprus Mail online of 8 September:
‘Don’t blame the plane or the co-pilot’
By Constantine Markides
HELIOS airline captain Robert Lascelles yesterday said he believed the blame for the August 14, 2005 Helios crash that killed all 121 passengers and crew on board lay primarily not with the co-pilot, whom he characterised as a “professional”, nor with the actual craft, which he claimed faced no unusual problems, but rather with the captain.
Lascelles, still employed with ajet – the successor airline to Helios – yesterday continued to answer questions posed by the investigative committee and lawyers of the victims’ families.
On Wednesday, captain Robert Lascelles had said that while the plane was rapidly depressurising, the pilots had wasted valuable time troubleshooting and contacting ground engineers.
“The first action they should have taken was put on their oxygen masks,” he said. “It’s also important that you try to control the depressurisation. You need to shut the airflow valve, then switch the decompression system to manual. That way a pilot can control the airflow. Also, you must lower the plane and drop the oxygen masks in the passenger cabin.”
But according to state radio, Lascelles yesterday limited his criticism to Hans-Jurgen Mertin, the German captain of flight ZU522. Lascelles said Mertin was known for his tendency to take unilateral action and may have treated co-pilot Pambos Charlamabous as a steward, ignoring any of his suggestions to deal with the situation differently.
Lascelles had worked together with Mertin at another airline. Mertin was fired at some point for not complying with company protocol but apparently did not mend his wayward ways after joining Helios.
“They called him in to talk about certain problems and compliance with procedures, but they gave him a last chance,” Lascelles said. “I believe he tried. They told him, ‘one more mistake and you’re out’.”
Lascelles never flew with Mertin at Helios, as both were captains. However, other co-pilots, including Charalambous, were concerned with doubling up with him.
Lascelles had only flattering words for Charalambous, calling him a “professional” and “very experienced”.
The British pilot did testify that the airline company pressured personnel to work long hours and imposed financial penalties on staff who called in sick and did not show up to work – although he noted that such penalties were shelved under the new ajet terms of employment.
But he also stated that the upkeep of the craft was “extremely good” and rejected claims that the changes in temperature on the Boeing in question or the fact that there was ice found on the craft door demonstrated its flight unworthiness.
Lascelles said that heating systems in older Boeing 737s are not very good or easily controlled – although he said this was not true of the new line of Boeings – and that technical deficiencies are to be expected on older aircraft.
Former Helios air stewardess Despina Amajouranou, who also testified yesterday, flew 11 times on the Boeing in question. She quit her job because, in her words, she did not want to risk her life to fill someone else’s pocket.
Amajouranou claimed that on August 9, 2005, five days before the fateful crash, the temperature of the Boeing 737’s cabin was very cold and, feeling dizzy, she had to cover herself with a blanket.
She also said that she smelled petrol during another flight and expressed the view that craft problems were not addressed due to their economic cost.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2006