benefit of the doubt
giving the pilots the benefit of the doubt:
MAYBE the radio freq change/handoff was blocked by another transmission or something else.
Maybe there was a good tail wind and they were moving right along.
Maybe they were arguing about a newly advertised airline policy...DUE to the MERGER!
Maybe they were tired from working a second job because they had lost 2/3rds of their pension and half of their pay?
So there they are, no radio calls...and not paying attention....aviate, navigate, communicate...and finally they come out of their stupor (hey maybe it was a bit hypoxic up there, or fumes or something) and manage a safe landing.
we all know that modern planes are a bit too automated...we shall see.
on the other side...
I've seen guys read books on how to build houses, or fill out forms for scholorships for their kids. There is sort of a highway hypnosis of the air...you have to concentrate sometimes.
And when you kept a paper chart handy...well, I just think that kept you in the loop better than the moving map.
over