The fundamental problem with the type involved, and several others, is the angle at which the pedal resides, which makes inadvertent brake application much more likely than it should be.
Of course, the footwell is an area where space is often at a premium, but there should be no excuse for a pedal design which makes it difficult to have the feet positioned on the pedals to permit accurate brake application only when it is conscious.
The absence of a relevant certification standard, lack of dialogue between designers and ergonomics experts, lack of awareness of the problem (probably by everyone), and a ready acceptance of shoddy work in this specific aspect of design by too many folk involved in test and development, have all played their parts.
This idea that heels should rest on the floor only holds water if you assume that you will never reject at speed in a crosswind or with an engine failure, or that the autobrake (if fitted) is utterly reliable.
Otherwise, the motion required to reposition the foot (feet) on the pedal(s) necessarily involves reducing rudder force to zero, even if only momentarily. This destabilises the trajectory and causes big problems.
A combination of properly-designed pedals and some sort of acceleration monitoring (called for over many years but only now looking like a reality on some very modern types) is the answer, not a dictat to pilots that they should risk their aircraft by using a technique which deprives them of immediate access to their brakes.
Last edited by frontlefthamster; 10th Dec 2011 at 17:22.