AF 447 Thread No. 11

[Chris Scott]

Hi PJ2,

Good to see this October Inquest discussion, including your two posts, finding its proper place in Tech Log.

Thanks for reminding us all of the deficiencies of the UAS memory drill (and even the written procedure) current at the time, and the probability that it encouraged the initial pitch-up.

As I've said before, I also wonder if the APPARENT sudden loss of about 300 ft of altitude (due to the removal of correction for airspeed when the IAS went AWOL) might have provoked a knee-jerk (of the wrist) response. But the realisation that this was just another of those UAS events should quickly have dawned, followed by a return to the familiar pitch-attitude for cruise flight. As you say, simply maintain the status-quo...

Inappropriate initial reaction is one thing, but what happened after AF447 had completely vacated FL350 climbing was irrational and inexplicable in a competent pilot who had spent many hours monitoring the flight instruments in the cruise and step-climbs on dark nights - much like the one in question.