Originally Posted by alf5071h
Mach, the recent incidents / accidents (AF447) might be a problem of general awareness due to weaknesses in instrument scanning – training and currency. In addition, with multiple ADC failures the pressure error correction to the altimeter may be removed and thus there is an apparent jump in the display which could encourage an overreaction. Also, possible bias from the dominating need for accurate height keeping in normal operations; thus crew’s not being familiar with the need to change thinking / behaviour patterns between normal and abnormal normal operations.
ALF, I think currency is the key. A crew may be engaged in the navigational problem throughout the flight, but typically the aircraft handling problem belongs to OTTO for flight after flight after flight and the crew is almost completely disengaged from aircraft handling.. The few seconds on approach are in a different environment than during cruise. The bit of sim work every 6 months or so is also usually down low, hitting the mandatory low altitude critical problems.
Throw in the surprise factor, mental overload, adverse Circadian rhythms, night, turbulence and a different flight control law such as the half fish, half fowl, Alt2(b) law and a rusty pilot will be in a world of difficulty getting any scan going.
IMHO pilots are going to have to fly more to maintain handling skills, or else AF447 may well mark the reaching of the tipping point where handling skills can no longer be trusted to save the day. The RVSM airspace reason for not hand flying must be overcome. Think of the training opportunities going to waste!
Can anyone think of a reason why this won't work? (I believe the institutional problems can be overcome.)
Originally Posted by Machinbird-AF447 Thread No 8
Let us think outside the box for a moment. Supposing we added in a manual flying training mode into our aircraft.
How did you learn to hold altitude? When you began to get a little off altitude, didn't your instructor cluck at you and if you continued to diverge, didn't he give the stick a nudge to put you back in the tolerance band. Why couldn't our aircraft with their sophisticated autopilots do something similar? No need to breech RVSM limits yet we can still get actual handling time and build a scan. Any pilot worth his salt hates having the stick nudged. When you get tired, you can let OTTO have the complete aircraft. Think of the potential to actually monitor a pilot's handling skill and to automatically record actual handling time! True, you won't get as much time to balance your checkbook or to read a magazine, but remember why you are sitting in the front seats!