AF 447 Thread No. 7

[Old Carthusian]

AirTren
No that isn't my thought at all. Perception works differently for different people and some actually process audio signals quicker than visual signals. We don't know that this was the case in this situation but it is an important factor that has to be born in mind. Furthermore you don't transform an audio signal into a visual signal unless that is what you want to do. This is a fallacy - sound is sound and is interpreted as such.
The big factor missing from the discussion is interpretation. If we take a direct signal and interpret it or misinterpret it, it takes time to correct and re-evaluate. In certain circumstances an audio signal is more reliable but as we know that also is subject to interpretation. The point is that using your instruments for example, instead of a yoke provides you with an organised initial frame of reference with graduated levels. Glancing at a yoke and trying to decide where it is when you are suffering say spatial disorientation can be remarkably misleading. What you see and what you think you see can be two different things - the banana experiment is very relevant here. A calm person will see something different to a panicking person.
Looking at your instruments will provide you with a much better indicator and what is more it will aid your interpretation because the initial frame of reference is already set - you don't have to judge to the same extent and importantly to create a frame of reference in which to judge. Evidence from the CVR indicates that the PNF was quite able to judge the situation as was the Captain (initially) but neither took the physical action necessary to override the PF.
This is also another reason why the yoke is a red herring - given the ineffective intervention by both non-flying members of the crew it is highly unlikely that their behaviour would have been any different had the aircraft been equipped with yokes. Short of direct physical intervention it seems that nothing was going to divert the PF from his actions but we must also factor in that incomprehension of the whole flight crew. I hold no brief for the side stick or the yoke but in this situation the type of input device is irrelevant.