MDA

[roulishollandais]

@ AerocatS2A
When experienced pilots are crashing after many many correct NPA approaches, are these approaches step by step or CDA, we have to ask us which wrong idea came in their mind that last flight. It is a problem of pedagogy, of didactic of failure. "Errare humanum est " is the norm, and someone think that replacing human by robots is the solution. But "Errare humanum est" works for automation, systems or SOP designers too. We just changed the reason of the crash. We have then to try to do a walk of empathy beside the thaughts of the person who failed that day. It is the main work of the agencies enquiring and elaborating recommendations not always connected to the day's accident.
We are searching which stimulus or lack of stimulus suggested the crew that action that day . Descending step by step with an altimeter and a DME seems one of the easiest task wanted from pilots. But we know sometimes they failed to achieve it. It is one reason to imagine the CDA "surfing" on the top edge of the steps. And we see they still decided to descend hundred feet under that line (last one Birmingham,AL). WHY? HOW?
I examined many times the AF chart in the Ste Odile crash before I understood how the FAF missing induced the idea that D7,3660' lost the state of mandatory. It got just numbers to eventually help. But that day was not like another day (you know any flight is different) and they descended the 15% slope toward 1440' and crashed at 2620' as their knowing of the bottom of the aproach was wrong. One of the expert said me he ignored the 15% limitation rule and no more came to the trial.. Today the status of CDA is still increased with RNAV or GPS approaches and the grey zone appeared in the books. The charts tried to figure together the CDA and the step by step informations. But the square grey zone is dangerous letting the possibility of confusing the bottom position.
Surely AerocatS2A your seem to have a strong use of your correct method help adequate training. In our times where beancounters consider training is too expensive many pilots are not so clear as you.Andpilots are not enough taught about the 15% slope, its beginning distance and finishing distance and that is confusing in the mind in the unconscious gey zone of the brain. Then these grey square zones may confuse the tired brain not help.