It's all about CRM - nothing more, nothing less.
The traditions and culture of many Asian countries is incompatible with the optimum, and safest, way to operate modern aircraft - to have company operations manuals that reflect the need for both Captains, and First Officers, to follow a procedure to resolve "inconsistencies" in flight path with the final provision that F/O's MUST take over if the safety of the aircraft is in doubt.
Provides a clear requirement (and support) for F/O's to speak up and a clear requirement (and company mandated requirement) for Captains to listen and act accordingly.
Undoubtedly some companies in Asia have such a system however many (especially those newer companies run by geriatric retired/discarded 18th century thinkers from established companies) do not - AND NEVER WILL HAVE.
The right and need for tradition/culture to override safety is primary in their minds; of course by all means discuss it to death but under no circumstances do anything about it!
REMEMBER: it wasn't Korean Air management who decided driving aircraft into the ground and killing people was a bad thing, it was the insurance companies who said "weeeeell you can keep doing that if you really want but we won't insure your aircraft so it's gonna cost you a s**tload on your balance sheet; if you want continued insurance this is what is required...."
Maybe it's time someone (ICAO, IATA, someone else, really don't care) stood up and said "for the benefit of international aviation safety, bearing in mind the difficulties at times to accept safety is more important than culture/tradition, this is what is required of your operation manual and training or else you don't fly...."
It's only a year ago in Indonesia that an F/O proved well and truely he would accept having an aircraft crash, and people die (maybe even himself!) rather than defy the culture and tradition.
In modern commercial aviation the ability to manipulate an aircraft is secondary to the ability to make decisions based on information from numerous sources - and for the Captain to be accountable for his actions (or non-actions.)
It's called CRM - not the strongest aspect of many companies based in Asia.
Just a few random thoughts
cheers
galdian
