Originally Posted by
Chronus
The sequence of events that led to the crash of this aircraft was initiated by a failure of the RTL system.
. . . .
I strongly disagree with this assessment. My reasons for disagreeing so strongly are, I have flown these aircraft A320/A330/A340 as well as all other manufacturer types and while these aircraft are emminently dispatchable, sometimes the MEL is invoked and we must deal with ECAM messages as-dispatched.
The A320 & Airbus types and Airbus philosophy have been around since the late 80's and is, (or should be) well-known and well-understood. Crews simply cannot carry out their own, made-up procedures on any types of transports any more. I'm sure the B777 and certainly the B787 will be the same.
The FCOM, the QRH (Abnormal Ops) and the MEL are
the guiding documents by which the aircraft is operated. Deviating from them is done under the captain's authority and responsibility if the safety of the flight is known to be at greater risk than not deviating from these documents. Otherwise it is expected that crews will adhere to the books. They should be in possession of sufficient understanding fo their aircraft to know why such cockpit discipline is paramount, even in trying and annoying circumstances as these must have been.
Resetting of both FACs
in the air is
prohibited by the Computer-reset section of the QRH Abnormal procedures. Here are the relevant excerpts:
-------------->
