PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Spanair accident at Madrid
View Single Post
Old 18th Aug 2009, 07:01
  #2512 (permalink)  
FullWings
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Tring, UK
Posts: 1,847
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
I've just skimmed through the report and it seems to be very well written, with plenty of interesting HF considerations and technical recommendations. This is one of the summations:

Based on these conclusions, the CIAIAC is of the opinion that three safety barriers provided to avoid the take-off in an inappropriate configuration were defeated: the airplane configuration checklist, the checklist to confirm and verify the airplane’s actual configuration, and the TOWS, which did not warn of the improper takeoff configuration. As a consequence, improvements should be taken in the area of design and operations so that future accidents as this one can be prevented.
There's a good discussion of checklist design, execution and interruption, leading to this conclusion:

It is recommended that the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), the FAA of the United States and European Aviation Safety Agency jointly promote the holding of an international conference, to be attended by every civil aviation representative organization, such as authorities, industry, academic and research institutions, professional associations and the like, for the purpose of drafting directives on good industry practices in the area of aviation operations as they apply to checklist design, personnel training and improved procedures and cockpit work methods so as to ensure that crews properly configure aircraft for takeoffs and landings.
Which is considerably overdue, IMHO, having been subjected to all sorts of rotten procedures over the years. Things are getting better with ECLs but there's still some way to go.

Well worth a read.
FullWings is online now