UPS1354 Accident Investigation
 

I noticed the official NTSB investigation report into UPS1354's CFIT crash in the news today.

It cites the multiple errors that both pilots made, ignoring repeated GPWS alerts etc, but one comment really caught my eye - the pilot displayed confusion consistent with performance deficiencies identified during his training.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/UPS_Airlines_Flight_1354

What !?!?

If that is a true statement how the hell did this guy pass the course and find his way into an actual cockpit ?

It could be argued in very muted tones that 'diversity' may have been a factor.

The captain was a Marine helo pilot, got some fixed wing time in a Shorts, got hired by United, didn't make it through training, went back to the Shorts. Got hired by TWA then went to UPS.

There was a big push to promote diversity in the pilot group in the early 1990's in the wake of an EEOC settlement at United that set 'goals' (read quotas) for underrepresented demographics.

Training standards were adjusted downward to allow people with low abilities or experience levels to 'settle in'. Written tests were eliminated since some groups always do worse than others on these exams. The airline simulator ride on the interview was replaced by a general aviation Frasca trainer to negate any advantage of prior large aircraft experience.

These things were done to 'level the playing field'.

Change it to 'lower the playing field' and you got that right.

Brutal.

I think that astronaut testing is too discriminatory. It doesn't take into account my poor piloting skills... because I don't do well when people watch me. I consistently do poorly, therefore, I'm part of a minority and by failing me you're discriminating against the minority I'm apart of.

And just because I don't do well with zero G doesn't mean I don't have the right stuff to be an astronaut. There are sick bags for that reason.

That must be their logic, right?

:rolleyes::ugh: