What can we passengers to do avoid being flown by a nut-case?

[korrol]

The Germanwings tragedy shows that even the best airlines can fall victim to the one-off nut-case on the flight deck who wants to end it all and take everyone with him.

I have a question. Is there anything we PAX can do to reduce our risk?

[INeedTheFull90]

There is nothing that can be done unfortunately.

You can fly airlines that always have two people on the flight deck but good luck trying to find out which do this.

Alternatively you can put pressure on the airlines/local MPs to get a change to the door procedures etc

[Mad Monk]

Yes.
Do not fly.
One can not guarantee the sanity of anyone in control of any vehicle.

Also I find it disgraceful that you describe the F/O as a 'Nut case'.
It is most likely that he had some major problems, but to dismiss him as a person with a serious psychiatric disorder is grossly unfair and probably inaccurate.

[Planemike]

Also I find it disgraceful that you describe the F/O as a 'Nut case'.It is most likely that he had some major problems, but to dismiss him as a person with a serious psychiatric disorder is grossly unfair and probably inaccurate.

Entirely agree with you. Very unwise words OP............

[nonsense]

You could start by recognising that the risk to you of being harmed by the deliberate actions of an unhinged pilot is far lower than the risks attached to alternative modes of travel, or for that matter, the risk of being struck by lightning.

Seriously, there are far far bigger risks that you never even think of worrying about.

[highflyer40]

Even the 2 pilot at all times doesn't work even if policy. Just look at the U.S. Where it is law, and only 21% of pilots there follow/obey that rule according to the study that was posted in the other thread on the crash.

Nothing needs to change it is just a fact of life. You could find the perfect airline and then get killed on your way to the airport by a lorry driver who decided to end it all by driving into oncoming traffic

[Kiltrash]

If you get 100 Security experts and asked them what was their biggest problem, I would be surprised if it was not all 100 saying the single suicidal person.

Extreme I know, but ALL air lines, the Senior Cabin Crew should man the flight deck if a Pilot leaves the cockpit and be trained to at least PPL standard, and door opening

As SLF I rely on the fact the Pilots have a self preserving attitude, and bus, train, lorry, drivers etc ..... the one KamiKazi(sp) cannot be eliminated

A cousin committed suicide and at the inquest a Female that no one knew came and said she had a affair with Cousin and he was afraid he would loose his kids if it came out!, totally screwdup

[S.o.S.]

Korrol, a most unwise choice of words but your fellow PPRuNers have already spoken and given you the Yellow Card.

I understand the concern expressed and will allow the thread to remain open a little longer, even though I do not think there is much more to be said.

[redsnail]

What can you do to avoid being flown by a pilot who is under stress?

Ask yourself is the new flight time limitations reasonable? (Hint, they are not)
Ask yourself is the cheap ticket I am buying truly representative of the cost of transport?
Ask yourself does this airline subscribe to Pay to Fly?
Ask yourself does this airline use fair and reasonable employment practices? Namely a fair full time contract, not zero hour.

Is it fair that a pilot can break a leg/have a heart attack/cancer, be treated, supported and allowed back into the flight deck whereas if he/she is too concerned about "feeling down" he/she keeps quiet and bottles it up for fear of losing their job?
BTW - that goes for any one with a mental illness.

There you go. There's a few things you can do.

Shack37, yes, agreed and that is so sad.

[Shack37]

Also I find it disgraceful that you describe the F/O as a 'Nut case'.
It is most likely that he had some major problems, but to dismiss him as a person with a serious psychiatric disorder is grossly unfair and probably
inaccurate.


Well, unfair it might be but right now there are a lot of other people with major problems thanks to his actions.

[mixture]

korrol,

As I once overheard someone saying .....

Life is a pack of cards shuffled by someone else.
Each day you are dealt one of those cards.
Its up to you to deal with it.

There are only three things guaranteed in this life korrol ... life, death and taxes.

That is all.

[PAXboy]

Well said mixture. My day job is being involved with recently bereaved people and that includes by suicide. I have been doing this for a long time.

Suicide is VERY difficult to understand, almost impossible to anticipate and the determined individual will always succeeed. Yes, what has happened is ghastly beyond words, but the brain of the o/p might develop a haemorrhage as they are driving their car at 70mph on the motorway and take out a whole coachload of people and entire families. That is the way that mankind has chosen to live in the 'civilised' western world.

[S.o.S.]

My thanks to all posters with good, steady and thoughtful answers. We might also take the time to remember the families and colleagues of the other flights so destroyed but we've done all we can on this.