Yestarday night, on a very short postal flight, our destination was not in database.
I told the copilot to "build" it in the supp database, but he forgot.
So we took off, and probably because of the lack of destination, the FMC "froze", did not accept any more route input.
I was grinding watching the copilot as control cleared us directly to final, from 150 miles out.
His descent planning was bad, I had to suggest the old rule of altitude times three... and his approach was a mess.
Being very familiar with the area, and cavok, I let him do...
Well, we managed to land... eventually he said this short flight had been more stressful than a sim session.
All this because of the lack of a magenta route.
When these poor chaps fly with me, they know they will be able to fly basics...
But unfortunately, the situation is hopeless.
Moderm man is fascinated by automation.
Il the 19th century the problem was: God is dead.
In this century it is: Man is dead.
It's already too late.
I would personally kick these guys' butt all the way to Zaire, to start as bush pilots as I did, young Commanders with 400 hours total, a map and a compass and a stopwatch, instad of being put on a 737 right seat from the beginning, but...
What do you want ot do, it's already too late.
And not only in aviation.
Read the great Erich Fromm to see it more clearly from a humanistic point of view.
