Incompetence Meets Hubris
Incompetence
These accidents all have something in common: pilot incompetence
The pilots in these cases may have known their airplane fairly well.
They may have memorized their company’s operating manual and their SOPs.
But in all cases they did not understand some of the basics of flying an airplane.
There is always a Captain who has a real license to supervise the others with lesser licenses.
But on closer inspection what we are really saying is that a pilot who cannot legally take a friend for a ride can occupy a cockpit seat while the captain is back in First Class.
Automation and Hubris
Bernard Ziegler designed the Airbus to be pilot-proof.
He is a good pilot, and he noticed that many pilots are less skilled than himself.
In the interest of safety, he designed an airplane that could not be stalled.
But it has been known for thousands of years that hubris is followed by nemesis, that pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs, 16:18)
Hubris is arrogance before the gods.
The goddess Nemesis alone can see the fine line between doing the best work you can and believing that your work is somehow superior.
Cross the line and she is ruthless, finding your fatal flaw and using it to bring you down.
AF 447 was the fall of the hero.
Pilot carelessness led the airplane into a line of thunderstorms.
Supercooled water drops overwhelmed the pitot heaters, temporarily removing all three sources of airspeed information.
The autopilot dropped off.
The flight control computers switched from Normal to Alternate Law.
The airplane can be stalled in Alternate Law.
Human or robot, there is always a fatal flaw.
How can we work with imperfection?
AF447 | formercaptain.ca
Winnerhofer
I just love your contribution!
This should be glued up the wall of every manufacturer, administration and airline management.
Simply to daily remind them of these their deadliest sins.
And i consent with PJ2. It's quite revealing to see which contributions are "deleted" and which ones are deemed worthy to "remain".