Thank you very much for your insight in posting this China Air accident report. Although it was many years ago, the circumstances surrounding this accident are vital study for any pilot wishing to increase his knowledge about the need for pilots to maintain basic jet transport handling skills. Wonderful FMC skills are fine. But manual handling skills are equally important as the accident revealed. It is a pity the crew failed in that department.
It is instructive to note that the various extracts published in the accident report from the various Boeing manuals - including the 747 Flight Crew Training Manual, have changed little over the years. The handling advice therein is sound and stood the test of time.
It matters not one iota that the China Airlines B747-400 accident happened all those years ago at an airport no longer in existence. The point is the same mistakes have caused numerous other similar accidents in other jet transports. In the case of this accident, discerning readers will readily note the potential dangers of non-standard handling. And moreover, how easily some pilots will introduce their personal techniques, rather than accepting the recommendations of the aircraft manufacturer as published in the appropriate aircraft operations manuals.
Towards the end of the report, the investigators made telling comment on the relative inexperience of the first officer, who by some of his actions after touch down, was contributory to the cause of the accident. The point made by the investigators being that the first officer had gone straight from flying small propeller aircraft directly into the second in command position on such a large jet transport.
Following the accident, China Airlines undertook to review the experience level of newly recruited first officers. But years later things remained unchanged and indeed the practice of placing inexperienced pilots directly into the right hand seat of jet transports has been accepted by airlines and regulators as perfectly safe. Statistically it probably is, too.
The accident report was one of the best I have ever read. Every pilot flying any airliner should read it. Thank you again for placing it on Pprune.
