All arguments aside I wanted to compare some salient points between an accident a few days ago (Afriquiyah) and this one
1. Both were new aircraft
2. Both were in about the same phase of flight
3. Both were being flown by captains with substantial number of hours under their belt
4. Both captains were familiar with the destination/homebase (AIE captain had done this route 19 times prior).
5. Both flight were arriving at or around the same time of the day
6. Viz and Wx were normal with nothing extra ordinary being reported.
7. IX was a QTA and Afriqya could be almost termed as this or in simpler terms very long point to point hours for the crew (Fatigue).
They both are have an disconcertingly similar pattern wherein by some horrible miscalculation an other wise competent crew on an other wise normal day flew a perfectly good aircraft into the ground.
Posters have used terms such as "gethomeittiss". As a lay person without passing judgment in both cases this seems to be the pattern where an exhausted, overworked crew doing all night flights with the body clock out of control on return to home base got complacement as the approach was simple. Before I get shot down I am not blaming the pilot and in fact I am blaming the situation countries in this region have gotten them selves into.
A Pilot can fly several sectors within India/US/Europe departing at sun up and returning by sun down and that will tire him out, but what will drive a person into the ground is a routine similar to what this crew did. They probably attempted to sleep during the day, woke up at 16:00 to reach the airport. Flew out at 20:00 on a QTA and were arriving back home dreaming of their bed and the next few days of (that also if???). Add that up and the guys were probably up for the past 14 hours with another 2 to go before they could hit the sack. Who knows their previous day schedules???
Well why has this not happened in the past (or has it with such frequency?).
Well low cost carriers, Rs 500 fares, desire to cut costs and allow everyone to fly are making airlines find innovative ways to cut costs.
1st went the food, then the baggage and the liquor, then the seat assignment. When all that could be taken from a passenger was taken they start looking at crew. Once they are done with that they will look at the aircraft, as to what all capital expenditure can be trimmed.
If forums from the ME South Asia and South East Asia are to be read then all crews seem to have this grouse about QTA. For a SLF one did not understand and infact used wonder how a person could complain with a 90 hour work load..........reality is that on QTA in these zones it can be a 18 hour day from pillow to pillow. NOT SAFE. For those in the US and Europe such QTA flights (by that I mean overnight) simply are not there due to the noise restrictions in place.
India - Gulf
India - Hong Kong
India - BKK
India - SIN
India - KL
Sri Lanka - India
These in my opinion are all the routes that airlines are trying to save money on by either doing QTA or using same crew for the return after minimum mandated rest period. Also these ports for the most part do not have the noise restrictions other countries have
I would like to seem some DGCA action on this where in such QTA flights are then pushed to all day time flights and over night rest for crew is mandated for other flights. If it costs a few bucks so what. At least 158 lives will be saved the next time.
In true clinical fashion the PIC will be blamed for reason. In fact what they should blame is the Cause as stated above.
Time for India to bring in noise regulations as in the west. if not anything else it will at least ensure such QTA and long hours become un viable. The crew can then rest at the time man should ie Night.
As in every accident it has been said it is multiple causes that lead to a tragedy. I hope this cause receives it's due attention to.
As an SLF I have always avoided night flights (except ULH). I get tired why wouldn't the crew?
RIP to those aviators and the other souls and hope someone learns from these mistakes
