I'm with you good sir ... the present button-pressing PacMan brigade presents its own set of management and training problems.. and I can recall, many years ago, a wise greybeard checkie making the observation that the OM etc generally omitted to include the most important statement on the front page .. "to be used with a modicum of commonsense".
I only question the wisdom of innovative pilot initiative if there is not a reasonable need for it in the circumstances ... much along the old lines of "the superior pilot using his superior knowledge to avoid having to demonstrate his superior skill to get out of the superior quality hole he dug himself into ....... " (apologies to a BA article if my recollection is correct).
The need for thinking pilots is not likely to change ... but there is also the problem of overconfidence begetting unnecessary exposure to hazard in operations.
Having seen the legal system up close, I prefer to run a course which is generally conservative .. with a desire to avoid a repeat of the exercise. While my exposure was comfortable, I have seen the disastrous effects of unfortunate outcomes on the lives of responsible chaps who tried to do the right thing at the time ... but were called to account for their actions before the bench. It is unfortunate that the legal community has this need to put things in shades of black and white rather than real world greys ...
And it is not even the case where one's actions would be called into question by the most critical of one's professional peers ... I can recall several colleagues (in different disciplines) over the years who have found themselves at the wrong end of a skilful advocate's venom in the wonderful legal sport of trying to expand the available set of deep pockets prior the final attempt to seek damages ....
I guess it depends on just how much excitement a chap might like to have in his life ... I recall a colleague once suggesting that excitement in an aircraft was uncalled for and that one ought to keep excitement where it belongs .. on overnights ...
Perhaps I am just becoming insufferably boring in my old age ... as opposed to just plain boring in my younger years ?
Last edited by john_tullamarine; 16th December 2002 at 01:03.