Originally Posted by
CONF iture
But the FDR data show that the System had no intention to deliver Alpha Max ...
*sigh* - If we clear this up now, can we get back on topic?
Right CONF - we know, as you repeatedly point out, that the system's Alpha Prot computations allow for an AoA just (probably just a fraction of a degree) shy of true Alpha Max. This is probably to provide a little extra safety margin - after all we are talking about the boundary of stall here. Your contention is that if the protection wasn't there, Capt. Asseline had the skill to finesse that extra fraction of a degree and cleared the trees. Am I correct so far?
So - let's look at some other evidence. Leaving aside the rather dubious notion of performing that maneouvre with passengers aboard in the first place (for which AF should be - and were - censured) - Capt. Asseline elected, having found himself off course (expecting the paved runway), fast and high, to fudge the approach rather than turn around and try again. This rather correlates some of the anecdotal evidence we have of the guy being somewhat arrogant. The mistranslation I've been working from regarding disabling of A/THR (and thus A. Floor) means that while fudging that approach, Capt. Asseline forgot to follow the protocol and did not cross-check with the crew. This arguably makes him both arrogant and incompetent - and it also demonstrates that his handling skills were not particularly well-developed. He then allowed the engines to spool down, and the aircraft to drop below 100ft - leaving an aircraft that was carrying passengers low, slow and out of options. Arrogant, incompetent *and* careless - qualities reflected in the judicial decisions that went against him.
Arrogant, incompetent and careless pilots have a nasty habit of getting people hurt and killed - and there is no mitigating excuse in the world that can counter the *facts* described in the paragraph above.
There - Habsheim is now discussed for the umpteenth time on a thread that bears little relation to the subject at hand. Permission to move along?