ABC Radio Intervew Richard de Crespigny
 

I am listening to what I believe is an embarrassing interview on ABC Classic Radio by Margaret Throsby with Richard de Crespigny.
This guy appears to be so so full of himself he is over flowing.
What a pain in the butt.
Sad to listen to but have to hear it in full so I can believe the apparent arrogance of this bloke .
No way I would buy his book after hearing this garbage.
:yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk::yuk:

On the contrary Rod, I was quite impressed with that interview.

I heard him mention 'the team',he gave credit to the CC and the others on the flight deck,and he conveyed to me his passion for flying and the job.I didn't hear him blowing his own trumpet.

Mrs C watched the interview on ABC News Breakfast this morning. I only caught snippets, being busy attending to her coffee & breakfast needs :} but what I saw seemed quite reasonable and Mrs C said she found him quite modest and even keeled.

He was talking to Fran Kelly this morning on RN Breakfast (24 Jul), did quite a good job and gave quite a bit of credit to his flight and cabin crew, and the aeroplane itself, for the safe outcome.

He does come across slightly 'hyped' in my opinion; sounds like he's worked up answers to expected questions that are designed to whet the appetites of the book-reading public, but - strangely enough - he's trying to promote his book!

I was at a RAAF squadron with him years ago, for a while, and found him to be a decent bloke. Good luck to him - while perhaps the publicity is a tad over the top (Australian Magazine front page and feature article, radio interviews, TV shows etc), I think perhaps the airline are kicking in to push it too, seeing as it's got all the elements you'd think they'd love to promote - experienced, dedicated crew under extreme pressure handling things well.

He sells books, QANTAS maximises good publicity after all the recent bad.

Of his edited burst in the Oz on the weekend, I thought this paragraph most telling.

I've highlighted the bit that concerns me.

I'm short on time so a couple of quick points.

1. Control checks after abnormals is a normal part of Qantas command training. It's hardly 'controversial'.

2. Not particularly effective CRM to want to do something but not talk it through with the rest of the crew first. If you think it's a good idea, discuss it with them. Perhaps they have ideas and suggestions that will improve the idea.

3. I've not met Harry Wubbin but I've flown with Dave Evans. I've got no qualms that were you to suggest something stupid- even at that late stage of the game- he'd say something. To imply that you suggested the control check so late that someone of Dave Evan's calibre was unable to speak up is a significant slur against Dave's character... and against the character of the remainder of the crew as well.

All those points in that para alone suggest something intriguing about 'character'. I'll leave it to others to consider their own assessment.

The story needs to be told and he was 1 of 5 who could tell it. I thought the interview was quite balanced.

Should he have not written the book?!

It was a proud day for the tradition and dedication of all our staff. Well done all.

GUARD:ok:

Yes, Keg, that bit in the Australian article did seem a bit odd, the way he put it - as if it was a risky thing to do that the others may have balked at. I think it might just be poetic licence to make it sound more exciting - you know, 'there I was, having to use my superior piloting skills to save the day' in the nick of time kind of thing.

I'm not an airline pilot so I can't comment on standard procedures in the big jets, but your comment about control checks being normal is reassuring.

Better to find out about controllability issues with a bit of altitude under you than on late finals as you slow through a critical speed for the aircraft's abnormal state!

Someone forwarded this on to me today also. I found this equally interesting as the way the article read regarding this was a bit strange:

Over dramatised seems to be a common opinion which is a shame given that the story itself would probably be dramatic enough without the little bits of embellishment here and there.

It's never "too late" for a check captain to intervene.

Was it 92 when a QF skipper was going to ditch off Perth due fog and the paxing checky intervened....

Insult to QF check captains if you ask me...

I suppose John Travolta would be the logical choice to play Richard for the Movie.

Quite correct that there where 5 on the flightdeck and the story should be told for the very reason that we all learn from previous incidents, however telling the story does not require the self promotion that has been witnessed in this and previous accounts.

My accolade is directed towards the first officer and I believe inside knowledge also points to such. Well done Sir as those of us whose habitat is forward of the locked door know the true value of a mature professional FO.

I believe that "ditching and paxing check captain" story is a complete myth.I am sure when Keg is around, he can confirm or deny.

Keg
Didn't happen. Control checks done in both the clean and landing Config (less the gear of course) while on downwind after discussion by all in the flight deck.:(

The FO is also under no pressure to be an ACE for the rest of his career.

Lets not forget the dangers that can come with being a HERO pilot i.e. KLM Teneriffe.

I've spoken to guys who have been around a lot longer than me. It NEVER happened. Kremin has probably spoken to people around longer again than me and he will verify the same. Had it occurred the name would be well known. It's not. Had it occurred people would tell you who the checker was. It's not. Further, the myth wouldn't have morphed into it being an Ansett crew who told them to auto land which is the way it's often told on PPRUNE.

Now, back to the QF32 book.

Helmut. Thanks for info. I suspected as much. I've said on other threads that I'll wait for the report to comment in more depth and the only reason I comment now is on the basis of what Captain de Crespigny himself has written.

Ditching story is a myth. End of story.

Thought this little post would immediately spin off topic, sure as eggs.

Anyway, TV is TV, a very different interview on ABC Classic FM today with him providing a selection of favourite music to be played during the IV and why they are his favourites, which is a standard on that channel for a guest to do so. Interesting back ground and up bringing. Certainly not a media star but seemed solid and likeable, and passionate about aviation. Certainly had good luck and a good run with QF. The music and stories were not about flying but added colour and life to the guy.

Could be anyone of us really.

As for his book well nobody criticised Ernest K Gann for giving us his life story in a book, 'Fate is the Hunter', perhaps more depth and purpose, but why should'nt he? A good yarn is a good yarn. And having RR's finest give up, blow a hole in the wing and then rain hot shrapnel in the form of engine parts onto the fuselage in QF's pride and joy, which by the way, is then transmitted by social media and the fans onboard around the world within 15 mins or so is yet another story. This one was never was going to escape interest or attention.

Yeah and maybe QF is pushing for their own means but guess what the public is interested in the story and your every day man or woman is interested, how many parties have you been bailed up at by people fascinated with aeroplanes and what you do?

It was a good yarn with a good outcome, nice to have one for a change.

God help us the ditching story is such a myth, I mean think about it, at worse case what would you do? Land in 100m in fog off an ils or ditch into the ocean? Even a first solo student could answer it I'm afraid.....

Tall poppies
 

It is Australian culture to nip tall poppies in the stem.

Based on my observations thus far, Sir Richard has a very high opinion of himself and is sniffing a career outside QF.

Just out of interest, is he any of the following; a Instructor Captain, a Check Captain, a CASA examiner, a Management pilot, a CRM facilitator?

I guess the big difference here is that 'Sully' has remained dignified, humble and oh so USA; "aw shucks it was nothin'."

Something Sully said has stayed with me; "I have spent many years learning to control my emotions in preparation for what happened on the Hudson." Sound advice.

BTW- Do any Airbus pilots think that "LAND ASAP" means continue circling for almost two hours (according to Wikipedia) with a couple of 4000m runways and all the safety equip below, while fuel is spraying out of the wing with the potential to ignite at any moment? Not a wind up, just want to gauge general opinion.