Originally Posted by
SpeedBird2016
Blindly following a SOP without thinking is dangerous. The best reason for having a human instead of a machine execute a NNCL is that the human can intelligently decide based on available information when a step is (and is not) a good idea.
Case in point: QF32. One very busy FO was actioning ECAM messages - one of which instructed the transfer of fuel between wings to balance the aircraft. Had his hand reaching up to the cross-feed valves when de Crespigny stopped him. Not a great idea to transfer good fuel to a wing that's leaking it as fast as it could be pumped (in the short-term anyway) - even though normally it's the logical thing to do.
Lets wait until we have the same information the SIA crew had before reaching our own conclusions. Lets call it a professional courtesy.
I believe the SOP says don't pump fuel if a leak is suspected. Something that Air Transat 236 failed to spot. Luckily they had some gliding skill at the pointy end.