Let me humbly consider the following.
Correct me if I'm wrong: Load factors limits +2,5/-1 Flaps ext. +2,0/0
And we all know what to avoid to respect them.
However: do you have the slightest idea of what can happen in a passenger cabin of an aircraft submitted to negative "g"?
What goes on in a galley?
And in a toilet?
And happens to unfastened passengers and Fight Attendants?
And to pallets/bags in the hold?
I don't!
Do you remember what you should check before you start aerobatic maneuvers?
Among others (area, altitude) AIFRAME!
So I fully agree with post 1330, that of Phileas Fogg
a. After 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes etc. in the hold "who is calling the shots?". Was a significant weather improvement forecast, or:
b. Why didn't they PDQ divert to, perhaps, Krasnodar, to sit it out there (it is acknowledged that an additional sector reduces allowable FDP by 45 minutes), or:
c. Simply divert to, perhaps, Krasnodar, dump the pax there for road transportation to Rostov, put some fuel on and return PDQ to DXB empty?
One thing I'm sure of: THIS IS MY ONLY LIFE AND I'M NOT INVULNERABLE NOR IMMORTAL
- Truly superior pilots are those who use their superior judgment to avoid those situations where they might have to use their superior skills.
One more thing.
I remember that in the last flights I made on 73 the co-pilots were taking a nasty habit of trimming pitching up during the flare (ie piloting with trim). Now?
Safe Flights
Romano