The GermanWings Accident

[raven11]

An apt assessment from a line pilot. Although the perspective is domestic American flying, the article applies to all airline pilots that fly for legacy carriers.

https://disciplesofflight.com/letter-from-your-pilot-germanwings-tragedy/

[Dash8driver1312]

Apt until her blast about flight experience. As ably and well pointed out by one of the commenters in the discussion thread that follows.

[Steve the Pirate]

The world and Mother Nature can be intense, but I know how to take this aircraft through, or around, everything that life has to offer. I am here for you.

:yuk:

I agree with Dash8driver1312 that the responses to her letter are far more well balanced than the letter itself.

STP

[seymoreskye]

The responses are fantastic and have more credibility than parts of her article.

She tried to twist her story a little in her replies.

Well done Mike!

[wantobe]

haha I like this one.


"ByTheWay says:
APRIL 10, 2015 AT 8:58 AM
Typical women’s perspective, have to turn everything into it being about them!

if he is not a pilot, what was he??? A truck driver, transport worker, flight attendant, bar tender, ???? He was a pilot, get over it.

The real issue is the fact that he a medical problem, depression! So let’s focus on how to deal with this in any work related situation not just in our profession.

A depressed cop with a gun, a depressed tank commander, a depressed president of the USA with a hand on the red button, can take out just any lives!

It’s not about the job, it’s about the person, Stoopid!"

[koi]

And of course, witness the Fragrant Harbour tone and topic....., everyone at CathayHorrific is thoroughly content, satisfied with Nick and Richard and has no axe to grind whatsoever.
Something like German Wings would never happen out east. Ahaa.
KK

[Steve the Pirate]

@koi

And of course, witness the Fragrant Harbour tone and topic....., everyone at CathayHorrific is thoroughly content, satisfied with Nick and Richard and has no axe to grind whatsoever.

Something like German Wings would never happen out east. Ahaa.

Are you implying that this tragedy was caused by someone who had an axe to grind with his employer? I realise that the investigation hasn't been completed but my understanding through what has been said in the press is that the man was suffering from a mental illness.

If you seriously think that having an axe to grind with their employer is enough to make a pilot repeat the GermanWings tragedy may I respectfully suggest that you stop flying?

Finally, I don't think that anyone has ever implied that this sort of thing couldn't happen "out east".

STP

[Algol]

Stop pussyfooting. You are disrespecting the innocents he murdered.

Mental illness/depression leading to suicide is common enough.
To commit mass murder at the same time is not, and indicates an extra motive.
If he rolled it on its back and pulled to vertical I might accept the 'sudden overpowering impulse' theory. But this was nothing like that. He locked the door and drove it in. The guy clearly acted with intent.
The only aim I can possibly ascribe to that is the intent to punish his employer, or the people on board.
I doubt it was the latter - given they were mostly complete strangers.

[Steve the Pirate]

Algol, please don't misinterpret my comments as in any way trying to minimise the gravity of this terrible tragedy or to show any disrespect to the victims and their families. I was merely questioning koi's implication that it was due to the pilot having had an axe to grind with his employer. Perhaps he did, perhaps we'll never know?

There are hundreds of heinous crimes that take place around the world and some of those responsible are unable to stand trial on the grounds of diminished responsibility. That is the law in many civilised parts of the world and I dare say that in such cases the families of the victims feel a profound sense of injustice, deepening their sense of loss. However, it is the law. Another principle of justice in most parts of the civilised world is that those accused of a crime are innocent until proven guilty. Whether we agree with it or not, in this case or in general, it is the law. I hope that in future should I, or a member of my family, be responsible for the loss of another's life, that principle will be applied until guilt or innocence is proved. I trust you feel the same?

You seem to think he flew this aircraft into the ground as a way to punish his employer and if you know that for a fact then I bow to your superior knowledge. However, I don't know all of the facts available to the investigators but there might have been countless contributory factors as to why this tragedy happened.

This horrific event will live on in our memories, if not for ever, then a for significant period of time, as it should.

STP

[Algol]

Steve, this is not a Court Of Law, its a court of public opinion. Well informed opinion if you are a pilot and know the business.

Yes, we are all familiar with those other superior Courts, where misscarriages of justice happen regularly, and where the guilty often walk away scot free thanks to the efforts of scurrilous lawyers. In a Court Of Law we see the Law applied - and Justice denied much of the time.

The details we know so far (I won't call them FACTS yet, in case you get upset) are pretty hard to explain in any other way than an intentional act (e.g. the repeated locking of the door). And in fact I don't see you questioning the deliberate nature of the act. You seem more interested in stopping speculation on his motive.

We may indeed never know his motive. But I think he lost the right to 'benefit of the doubt' when he locked that cockpit door.
I'm interested to hear your speculation on why he'd do that while sitting watching the aircraft fly into the ground (assuming you think he was really just a passive witness).

[Lowkoon]

Do you think that someone who thinks jumping from the top of a building is the best course of action they could take gives a second of thought to those who are potentially walking on the pavement below? No different here. Mental health issues affect pilots in the same percentages as they affect any other cross section of the population, but of course our regulators and insururers have created an environment where pilot mental health issues are even less likely to be dealt with than any other group. Shameful.

[Steve the Pirate]

Algol, at what point in either of my posts did I question the facts that we know so far? Allow me to reiterate: my original post was questioning koi's implication that the reason for the event unfolding as it did was due to the pilot having an axe to grind with his employer. You take it one step further by stating:

The only aim I can possibly ascribe to that is the intent to punish his employer

Once again, if you have knowledge that allows you to make this assertion then I bow to that superior knowledge and will accept the assertion as fact. If you don't have that knowledge it's merely speculation as to why you think it happened and, frankly, it baffles me as to how you can jump to this conclusion. This is the only statement of fact that I was questioning in your post.

I am not defending (or even debating) the deliberate nature of this act and have never done so, by statement or implication. The fact that you chose to interpret my posts as doing so is unfortunate. You are right, this is a court of public opinion and I have no desire to stop speculation as to the motives of this individual nor do I have any power to do so. It's human nature to want to find out why things happen the way they do, particularly events that are so appalling in their nature. So far, and this is to the best of my knowledge, we know what happened but we don't know why it happened.

STP

[Algol]

Well, if that's the case let's see an end to all the speculation about the harsh working lives and frustrations which modern pilots experience.
Agreed?
There's no proveable link.
Happy?

If you jump out a window in a moment of madness and hit a pedestrian below - that's a horrific coincidence.
If you put your hands around someone's neck and squeeze until they're dead - that's murder.
You think this incident was more like the former?
Stop kidding yourself.