For gods sake. I can't believe there are people here defending van Zanten.....
Even if it was a criminal offence to work too long, would that justify ignoring your fellow crew members and putting the lives of hundreds of innocent people at stake as he did? It's a well known syndrom in CRM; getting home despite... People ended up in all sorts of misery because of that.
And with respect to RT, I was learned to ask twice when either a fellow crewmember or me is in doubt... Especially in those conditions. This was a one man show, and Braggs says that himself.
Mary P, your friend is right. That man was known as Mr KLM at the time and the airline looked for certain characteristics in pilots which can be translated into a higher than average level of arrogance and being self-absorbed. Looks and attitude mattered. Certainly at that time KLM pilots were seen as the gift of god to Dutch aviation.
Last edited by badedas; 29th Mar 2007 at 15:19.