Originally Posted by
PukinDog
Briefings, SOPs, and checklists are there to backstop performance, especially when tired, etc. because they focus attention on where it needs to be focused. Even the well-rested pilot that does no bookwork, planning, or briefing will stuff things up a thousand times more often than a tired pilot that does all the above.
One can go around and around about FMS procedures, lack of EVS, "Tunneling" and circadian rhythms, but those aren't going to prevent stuff-ups of this nature if the crew didn't bother with fundamentals and basic adherence to procedures already in place.
Does anyone actually think a detailed, proper briefing that reviewed the primary guidance aids (ALSF-II and PAPI) to be followed for this visual approach was conducted in this case?
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But that cannot be. The pilots of this flight are from a first world nation with a super proud tradition of meticulous training and water tight integrity. I am sure the CVR wasn't deliberately meant to be overwritten! They have sound fundamentals and very strict checks and balances. The runway layout, the unnecessary runway closures and unhighlighted notams, the ATC, the tiring schedule, the circadian rhythms, and a whole lot of other contributing factors are largely to blame.