What happens after an incident?

[dudduddud]

I was just casting my mind back to the 747 quadruple-engine failure due to ingestion of volcanic ash and it got me thinking...

What happens to the flight crew afterwards?

Provided they weren't found to be at fault, do they usually fly again?

I guess the question is: Do flight crews often suffer from acute burnout after really off-the-wall emergencies sufficient to force them out of the job?

[Notso Fantastic]

In that incident, you will be pleased to hear that all 3 flight crew happily completed their careers to retirement. Indeed, the irrepressible Capt Moody is even a TV pundit when expert aviation opinion is needed.

It is normal for the flight crew to be suspended pending investigation into the circumstances and the reaction. You can bet a toothcomb is dragged through every instant. Meanwhile the cabin crew are immediately lauded as heroes. I don't even recall anyone asking any embarrassing questions of them, as in the Mukonyi 747 incident where nobody even spotted a large man in a puffah jacket walk right through a 747, up the stairs, along the upper deck into the flight deck and try and terminate hundreds of people. The pilots were not even told 6 months later they were 'clear'! This is 'usual procedure' I'm afraid.

It's not the nature of pilots to become a bundle of nerves and give up after incidents. They're a rather mechanical, unimaginative lot and can get back to normal quite quickly (I know). Having done several of those daft, isometric (or whatever) tests, pilots are more similar to policemen than any other profession. Not sure what that message gives, but misbehave in front of me and you'll have cuffs on before you know it Buster (they might be Mrs. Notso's purple velvet ones though).

* I think it's psychometric or something like that.....along with 'graphology' perhaps one of the most phoney false 'sciences' that has been foisted on the human race.......excluding sociology (how dare that call itself an '...ology'?). English Literature....there's another one- the taxpayer pays for people to go to uni ....to read books? Then there's 'Media Studies'- whassat for God's sake? Then.........(sound of computer cable being pulled out)

[BRAKES HOT]

What happens after an incident?

tea and biscuits........

[PPRuNeUser0172]

Depends who your boss is and where the incident takes place, for example, if you are flying in Russia, you are given 3 things, a height (in metres), a speed (Km/h) and a heading. If you deviate from any of those 3 things, you are joined by 2 Mig XX's and "escorted" to the nearest airport, the crew are never seen again and the passengers continue by road......................

;)

[EnglishmaninNY]

Hey DS

That's hilarious!! :D

[B737NG]

That happend about 15 years ago. Penetrating the USSR Airspace
by ignorant mistake from the crew. Aircarft and Crew never seen
again. Sanya about two years ago in a Chinese Fighter had a
mid air "touch" with a US-Military plane. The fighter went down in
the south Chinese Sea. The US-plane landed at Sanya island. The
Crew was held and the diplomatic channels glowed........later they
have been released and send back home. So it depends where
you are and how tense the situation is.

NG

[Old Smokey]

dudduddud,

Notso Fantastic gave a good insight into what usually happens in the 'normal' world. Here's a response to your 3 questions from a slightly different perspective -

(1) What happens to the flight crew afterwards? - Routinely suspended without prejudice pending the outcome of any investigation to follow.

(2) Provided they weren't found to be at fault, do they usually fly again? - Yes, and to go a step further, even if found to be at fault, are usually able to resume duties after retraining / counselling etc. provided that no negligence, criminal intent etc. was determined to be the cause.

(3) Do flight crews often suffer from acute burnout after really off-the-wall emergencies sufficient to force them out of the job? - No most go back to work with little difficulty. It's part of one's own psychological conditioning that such things can happen, and we remain ready to cope with the unthinkable. I have a number of acquaintances who have been through horrific circumstances, terrorism, fatal crashes etc. and go back to work. Most just go home, have sex, most have a drink, I'd smoke 2 packets of cigarettes, and get up the next morning ready to do it all again.

[Wino]

One of two things happen after an accident.

The Crew attends their own funeral

Or, If they survived

The Crew takes a drug test

Cheers
Wino

[Tinstaafl]

First you make sure all the switches are where they're supposed to be. Then you fill out all the paperwork you should have done prior to flight. Then you position the fuel selector to the fullest tank. If you can't detect any fuel in any tank then you can either throw the fuel cap as far away as is humanly possible OR use the screwdriver attachment on the fuel drainer to punch numerous holes in each & every fuel tank (don't forget to bash the hell out of of the edges of the punctured metal with a convenient rock. Leave the rock(s) next to the hole(s)). Ensure you light any nearby grass/shrubs/leaf litter/lolly papers in the ashtrays so lack of spilled fuel isn't queried. Start the fire with a bunch of dry grass near the exhuast outlet. Make sure the conflagration includes the CVR.

Retire to the pub before the services arrive & consume copious amounts of medicinal alcohol. Shout the bar so everyone will remember you started drinking when you got there after your miraculous escape.

[lomapaseo]

Well I think that the answer above tea and biscuits........

is a pretty much a middle of the road answer that covers most situations. In other words at the minimum you get a chance to sit down over tea and biscuits and talk about it with your safety officer and/or chief pilot.

[dudduddud]

Thanks guys, that's just what I was after.
Take care.

[Vlad the Impaler]

Dirty Sanchez, You sir are a plagiarist. Could have changed the words slightly......great speech though.