Helios Crash
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
First off, playing the "female card" is not only crass and dated, but it shows your colours, ma'am. "Bat the eyelids and the pilots will tell all". Why don't you post a picture of you lifting your skirt above your knee!! Maybe I'm wrong about you but that is the way you introduced yourself, so be prepared for the retoric.
It must be clear to you by now most pilots are of the opinion that a "professional" person in the media has the objective to make a program that the maximum amount of people will watch thereby selling the maximum amount of advertising space for the maximum amount of money. I'm sure you are very "professional"!!!
In comparison, a pilot wants to find out why an accident or incident occured so as to train other pilots not to repeat the incident or else change procedures so that it cannot occur again (I know it's a simplistic explanation). As you can see we have very different objectives when it comes to analysing accidents or incidents.
Now for my less sarcastic comment: Inevitably the cause of accidents are so complex that they are very difficult to comprehend by non-industry personnel. As such, this makes presentation on a TV progamme an extremly difficult task and, furthermore, comprehension by the average viewer can be an even more difficult pusuit. As a result of this, it has become common for TV documentaries to focus on a single event or circumstance which appears to be "scandalous" as the cause. This satisfies the "60 minute" hit that the viewer requires but very often distorts the truth beyond recognition.
Back to sarcasm: I am confident that in order to be as "professional" as possible you will replace words such as "descended" with words such as "plummeted". This may be a simple journalistic embellishment but it is a twisting of the facts to a pilot. Unless you tells us the vertical speed and the attitude of the aircaft then use of the word plummet just means gutter press to us.
I hope this goes some way towards explaining why pilots are anti press. You have to understand it took many years of bad press to develop this distrust. I don't think you will repair it all with a "bat of the ould eyelids", ma'am.
It must be clear to you by now most pilots are of the opinion that a "professional" person in the media has the objective to make a program that the maximum amount of people will watch thereby selling the maximum amount of advertising space for the maximum amount of money. I'm sure you are very "professional"!!!
In comparison, a pilot wants to find out why an accident or incident occured so as to train other pilots not to repeat the incident or else change procedures so that it cannot occur again (I know it's a simplistic explanation). As you can see we have very different objectives when it comes to analysing accidents or incidents.
Now for my less sarcastic comment: Inevitably the cause of accidents are so complex that they are very difficult to comprehend by non-industry personnel. As such, this makes presentation on a TV progamme an extremly difficult task and, furthermore, comprehension by the average viewer can be an even more difficult pusuit. As a result of this, it has become common for TV documentaries to focus on a single event or circumstance which appears to be "scandalous" as the cause. This satisfies the "60 minute" hit that the viewer requires but very often distorts the truth beyond recognition.
Back to sarcasm: I am confident that in order to be as "professional" as possible you will replace words such as "descended" with words such as "plummeted". This may be a simple journalistic embellishment but it is a twisting of the facts to a pilot. Unless you tells us the vertical speed and the attitude of the aircaft then use of the word plummet just means gutter press to us.
I hope this goes some way towards explaining why pilots are anti press. You have to understand it took many years of bad press to develop this distrust. I don't think you will repair it all with a "bat of the ould eyelids", ma'am.
Joined: Dec 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 40
From: Various
Dear Miss Flying Bird.
I have been on the front page of the Telegraph in a fanciful report of a non-event that became "Jet Crash survivors Given Valium Jabs" after a mere engine failure and text-book landing. 17 short paragraphs, if I remember correctly, but you needed to get to the 9th before you had a paragraph without an incorrect fact in it.
Is your name Je**** Ja****?
As I see it.....
Pilot makes mistake - people die - journalist prints error ridden story and makes money
Journalist makes mistake - pilot gets defamed - journalist MIGHT have to print retraction on page 99 in tiny print.
Not a level playing field and there are insufficient checks on the skill and honour of journalists, unlike pilots.
Reading the previous posts, I had an idea (not too experienced in journalism etc) but wouldn't it be interesting to make a story out of the difference in the journo reports that come from accidents and the actual events?
I have been on the front page of the Telegraph in a fanciful report of a non-event that became "Jet Crash survivors Given Valium Jabs" after a mere engine failure and text-book landing. 17 short paragraphs, if I remember correctly, but you needed to get to the 9th before you had a paragraph without an incorrect fact in it.
Is your name Je**** Ja****?
As I see it.....
Pilot makes mistake - people die - journalist prints error ridden story and makes money
Journalist makes mistake - pilot gets defamed - journalist MIGHT have to print retraction on page 99 in tiny print.
Not a level playing field and there are insufficient checks on the skill and honour of journalists, unlike pilots.
Reading the previous posts, I had an idea (not too experienced in journalism etc) but wouldn't it be interesting to make a story out of the difference in the journo reports that come from accidents and the actual events?
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
From: South East UK
How do you knw that "Flying Bird" is a woman? Please tell me the secret.
It wasn't difficult to find out who she is and what she's working on. I'm sure with a bit of effort anyone else here could have the same information. Not such a big secret, is it?
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: London
Me again
Hi everyone,
Thanks for replying to me.
Well, what can I say? I don't feel very welcome here but, fair enough, I understand...Now, let me post that last message because I feel the need to answer these 'attacks'. Then, I should leave this space and let you discuss in peace!
So, point taken: Pilots do not like journos and you feel we will produce a sensational film with no serious content. If that is what you believe, I cannot prove you wrong until the doc is release (and unfortunately you will have to wait for that). In my defense, having talked to key people of the aviation industry and to relatives, I can only say I really feel responsible for produciong an honest and balance account of the story and avoid hollywood style as much as possible. I believe this is going to be a different film than the usual 'disaster stories' and that it will provide viewers with the appropriate information in an objective way.
We've done our homework, we've done the background research, the appropriate tests and we've talked to the right people in the right places.
Perhaps it was my mistake to use this thread for such purposes and I apologise if I offended some of you. Ho, and for the record, yes i'm a lady and no I wasn't planning on lifting my skirt (sorry Bomber Harris)...
Now, if anyone can help or wishes to talk seriously about this, then I will be happy to give more details about what we are doing...
Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure....thanks for taking the time to reply to me.
All the best.
Thanks for replying to me.
Well, what can I say? I don't feel very welcome here but, fair enough, I understand...Now, let me post that last message because I feel the need to answer these 'attacks'. Then, I should leave this space and let you discuss in peace!
So, point taken: Pilots do not like journos and you feel we will produce a sensational film with no serious content. If that is what you believe, I cannot prove you wrong until the doc is release (and unfortunately you will have to wait for that). In my defense, having talked to key people of the aviation industry and to relatives, I can only say I really feel responsible for produciong an honest and balance account of the story and avoid hollywood style as much as possible. I believe this is going to be a different film than the usual 'disaster stories' and that it will provide viewers with the appropriate information in an objective way.
We've done our homework, we've done the background research, the appropriate tests and we've talked to the right people in the right places.
Perhaps it was my mistake to use this thread for such purposes and I apologise if I offended some of you. Ho, and for the record, yes i'm a lady and no I wasn't planning on lifting my skirt (sorry Bomber Harris)...
Now, if anyone can help or wishes to talk seriously about this, then I will be happy to give more details about what we are doing...
Gentlemen, it's been a pleasure....thanks for taking the time to reply to me.
All the best.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: somedays in a helicopter, other days in a fixed-wing....
Although i agree with MOST of your comments about the subject. . in trawling through the 2 pages of post's...i was bored !!!!less in reading the same thing. . yet i have been sucked into posting a reply..(like most).."flying bird" probably read the first post and never came back. . yet your all still carying on about her, i agree with MOST of you, about the media's ways of portraying aviation accidents. but we all seem to have far to much time on our hands to write 2 pages of the same crap.
of course i leave my self open to education of "flying Bird" and if anyone has actually met her/him/the to make a valid regarding the real person and not a generalisation.
Correct me if i'm wrong but news stories aren't Documentary's. . shows such as Air crash investigations are Documentary's and are not a sensational story but the sensational and tragic truth, it is classed as ilegal to put misleading information in a documentary, as Doc's are classed as fact, not fiction nor speculation. (open for correction)
JF
of course i leave my self open to education of "flying Bird" and if anyone has actually met her/him/the to make a valid regarding the real person and not a generalisation.
Correct me if i'm wrong but news stories aren't Documentary's. . shows such as Air crash investigations are Documentary's and are not a sensational story but the sensational and tragic truth, it is classed as ilegal to put misleading information in a documentary, as Doc's are classed as fact, not fiction nor speculation. (open for correction)
JF
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
From: very west
Flying-bird,
Allow me to extend a courtious and professional welcome to you here on this forum. I am not one of the moderators, nor am I involved in the management or running of this forum. I, like yourself, am merely a contributer.
I am sure you will have realised by now that there is a general negative feeling towards representatives of the press and media here. This is not strictly a view directed at you personally. However, the phrase 'tarred with the same brush' is relevant.
This view is widely held within the proffesional aviation community, and it is based purely on experience, as you will have read above.
Within my own lifetime, I have had the misfortune to have lost a number of friends in aviation. They were all professionals and acted accordingly. This never prevented the media from presenting, at best distorted, at worst completely fabricated, reports of events and background leading up to events.
However, let this not disuade you from your path. Should you consider yourself to be a professional within your chosen field, may I suggest you link or post here some of your previous, published work regarding aviation and allow those professionals here to review. Should you have a proven track record of published, unbiased, impartial, truthful and, most importantly, accurate works, then, and only then, would you potentially be taken seriously here.
I anticipate your positive response with interest.
camlobe
Allow me to extend a courtious and professional welcome to you here on this forum. I am not one of the moderators, nor am I involved in the management or running of this forum. I, like yourself, am merely a contributer.
I am sure you will have realised by now that there is a general negative feeling towards representatives of the press and media here. This is not strictly a view directed at you personally. However, the phrase 'tarred with the same brush' is relevant.
This view is widely held within the proffesional aviation community, and it is based purely on experience, as you will have read above.
Within my own lifetime, I have had the misfortune to have lost a number of friends in aviation. They were all professionals and acted accordingly. This never prevented the media from presenting, at best distorted, at worst completely fabricated, reports of events and background leading up to events.
However, let this not disuade you from your path. Should you consider yourself to be a professional within your chosen field, may I suggest you link or post here some of your previous, published work regarding aviation and allow those professionals here to review. Should you have a proven track record of published, unbiased, impartial, truthful and, most importantly, accurate works, then, and only then, would you potentially be taken seriously here.
I anticipate your positive response with interest.
camlobe
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: somedays in a helicopter, other days in a fixed-wing....
OK..so SHE came back.,.. i was wrong there. . and trawled through the 2 pages. .and made a valid valid point. .
Camlobe is spot on.... a professional valid post you would expect from aviation professionals.
Camlobe is spot on.... a professional valid post you would expect from aviation professionals.
Guest
Posts: n/a
If the journos are part of the incident, they can't possibly misreport it
From yesterday's Irish Independent
Runway scare as plane goes into skid
A TOTAL of 172 Dublin-bound passengers on board a Ryanair flight were terrified yesterday morning when their plane skidded down a runway and failed to take off.
Flight FR113 was forced to ground to a screeching halt when the pilot braked hard as the plane was moving at high speed at Gatwick Airport. The flight to Dublin was about to take off when the pilot decided to abort the attempt due to a technical fault.
A Ryanair spokesperson said there had been a problem with a rear light.
A group of journalists on board said they experienced a few moments of terror. "The blood drained out of my body," said one member of the group. "The pilot sped up and I noticed there was something amiss because it was taking beyond the normal time to take off.
"Then he hit the brakes all of a sudden and a couple of people screamed. There was a loud noise because we were moving at high speed, like after a plane lands, and that caused a lot of people to panic. It was very scary."
The plane later got the all-clear from technicians to resume the flight. It arrived in Dublin an hour behind schedule.
A TOTAL of 172 Dublin-bound passengers on board a Ryanair flight were terrified yesterday morning when their plane skidded down a runway and failed to take off.
Flight FR113 was forced to ground to a screeching halt when the pilot braked hard as the plane was moving at high speed at Gatwick Airport. The flight to Dublin was about to take off when the pilot decided to abort the attempt due to a technical fault.
A Ryanair spokesperson said there had been a problem with a rear light.
A group of journalists on board said they experienced a few moments of terror. "The blood drained out of my body," said one member of the group. "The pilot sped up and I noticed there was something amiss because it was taking beyond the normal time to take off.
"Then he hit the brakes all of a sudden and a couple of people screamed. There was a loud noise because we were moving at high speed, like after a plane lands, and that caused a lot of people to panic. It was very scary."
The plane later got the all-clear from technicians to resume the flight. It arrived in Dublin an hour behind schedule.
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Camel jockey
dear flying bird.
If indeed you have done your homework, back ground research and the appropriate test. Perhaps you can let us all in on what really happened on that fateful day, perhaps you could send you research in to HELIO"S and, or the appropriate authority and let them Know what happened as well. I am sure they would love to here from you, they are all trying to find away to blame someone else you views would be as good as any body's. Then of course the question beckons, why do you need help from a pilot, surely you must have meet plenty during your research, or did they all tell you to ....... off. Perhaps as you stated yourself, you should wait till the real report is released then release you show.. Oh but i guess that would be no good would it as you might tell a different story to your truth and all your RESEARCH would have been for nothing..
If indeed you have done your homework, back ground research and the appropriate test. Perhaps you can let us all in on what really happened on that fateful day, perhaps you could send you research in to HELIO"S and, or the appropriate authority and let them Know what happened as well. I am sure they would love to here from you, they are all trying to find away to blame someone else you views would be as good as any body's. Then of course the question beckons, why do you need help from a pilot, surely you must have meet plenty during your research, or did they all tell you to ....... off. Perhaps as you stated yourself, you should wait till the real report is released then release you show.. Oh but i guess that would be no good would it as you might tell a different story to your truth and all your RESEARCH would have been for nothing..
aka Capt PPRuNe
Joined: May 1995
Posts: 4,541
Likes: 3
From: UK
I must say that some of you do us all a disservice with some of your replies. It is one thing to make criticisms of published or broadcast stories or documentaries but to lash out at a polite request for help before knowing the credentials of the poster is akin to exactly the same actions by some of the gutter media many of you so love to hate.
To accuse the poster of not researching something that is very technical and at the same time fail to notice that she states that she is making a documentary and not publishing a newspaper article is blatant hypocracy. A few of you have made polite and sensible replies but I sense a mass hysteria by some who only exhibit their 'bravery' when posting on here whilst cowering behind their protctive cloaks of anonimity.
Can we please have a bit of decorum on here? If you are rabidly anti-press then by all means make your views known but at least try and make sure you are not being hypocritical whilst doing so.
To accuse the poster of not researching something that is very technical and at the same time fail to notice that she states that she is making a documentary and not publishing a newspaper article is blatant hypocracy. A few of you have made polite and sensible replies but I sense a mass hysteria by some who only exhibit their 'bravery' when posting on here whilst cowering behind their protctive cloaks of anonimity.
Can we please have a bit of decorum on here? If you are rabidly anti-press then by all means make your views known but at least try and make sure you are not being hypocritical whilst doing so.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 980
Likes: 11
From: On the dark side of the moon
You're a wise man Danny, and some people on here do not deserve the right to use this vehicle you so graciously provide to lash out at people they don't even know. Sadly, I feel your sage words will be lost on them.
Jeff
Jeff
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: uk
The press cost lives....Thats all we need to know really.
I have witnessed a family deprived of their father because of journo`s.....Don`t forget, they are also making a living, this means they are getting paid for potentially killing others.
A report will never be neutral or good, neutral and good do not sell.
I have witnessed a family deprived of their father because of journo`s.....Don`t forget, they are also making a living, this means they are getting paid for potentially killing others.
A report will never be neutral or good, neutral and good do not sell.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: somedays in a helicopter, other days in a fixed-wing....
att -The press cost lives....Thats all we need to know really.
I have witnessed a family deprived of their father because of journo`s.....Don`t forget, they are also making a living, this means they are getting paid for potentially killing others.
A report will never be neutral or good, neutral and good do not sell.
Although you have witnessed a family deprived of their father, i have witnesses my best mate portrayed in many ways. BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN PRESS COST LIVES!!!! they had noting to do with his accident!!!.. and of course some read into the accident to much...but many came to us looking for a realistic approach!!!!
Neutral & good do not sell. . bull !!!!. . aviation accidents sell full stop!!! and reports are neutral or good. . car crashes not matter how horrific wont make world news, murders etc. but avaition accidents make news global... go figure!!! no need to spruce it up. . they are spectacular for some, horrific for some and a great loss for others. . these need no neutral or good!!!. I feel you should strongly revise your comments. As if you are going to make generalisations i would be right to state all Pomms are winging Bast*rds, or durg addicts, or tossers. . just because i may have met a few like this doesn't mean your all like this ? does it?
JF
I have witnessed a family deprived of their father because of journo`s.....Don`t forget, they are also making a living, this means they are getting paid for potentially killing others.
A report will never be neutral or good, neutral and good do not sell.
Although you have witnessed a family deprived of their father, i have witnesses my best mate portrayed in many ways. BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN PRESS COST LIVES!!!! they had noting to do with his accident!!!.. and of course some read into the accident to much...but many came to us looking for a realistic approach!!!!
Neutral & good do not sell. . bull !!!!. . aviation accidents sell full stop!!! and reports are neutral or good. . car crashes not matter how horrific wont make world news, murders etc. but avaition accidents make news global... go figure!!! no need to spruce it up. . they are spectacular for some, horrific for some and a great loss for others. . these need no neutral or good!!!. I feel you should strongly revise your comments. As if you are going to make generalisations i would be right to state all Pomms are winging Bast*rds, or durg addicts, or tossers. . just because i may have met a few like this doesn't mean your all like this ? does it?
JF
Joined: Dec 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 40
From: Various
How much would it actually cost to commission a 30 minute TV programme? Would it not be beneficial to all sides to have a TV "insider" show highlighting the view of avaition from OUR side?
Answering such questions as "Why can't I board after the gate has close", "What really happens if the engine stops in a Cessna 150" and "What is wrong with stubbing out a cigarette in the waste paper bin"?
I've watched the "Airport" series in the UK where Easyjet check-in staff tell pax that they are too late to board and the pax start ranting yet the show never BOTHERED to explain why the late pax cannot get on (Loading of bags, C of G calcs, Mandatory safety brief, steps/loaders have gone etc etc)
I would have thought this sort of informative programming would knock spots off of a vague and speculative documentary. (No offence, but 30 mins won't do it for the Helios story)
I might be prepared to put my money where my mouth is since I can imagine this idea making a profit, especially if we all pushed it!
Answering such questions as "Why can't I board after the gate has close", "What really happens if the engine stops in a Cessna 150" and "What is wrong with stubbing out a cigarette in the waste paper bin"?
I've watched the "Airport" series in the UK where Easyjet check-in staff tell pax that they are too late to board and the pax start ranting yet the show never BOTHERED to explain why the late pax cannot get on (Loading of bags, C of G calcs, Mandatory safety brief, steps/loaders have gone etc etc)
I would have thought this sort of informative programming would knock spots off of a vague and speculative documentary. (No offence, but 30 mins won't do it for the Helios story)
I might be prepared to put my money where my mouth is since I can imagine this idea making a profit, especially if we all pushed it!
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: somedays in a helicopter, other days in a fixed-wing....
blue up...your onto a good idea here... and it can be easy done..with the right marketing..i'm sure we could find investors to do a 30 min or 60min FAQ program...inside aviation...explaining to the public..the rules regsand all the questions you stated...i think we should push for it.... i'd be happy to help out.
JF
JF
Joined: Dec 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 40
From: Various
FlyingBird? Since you ought to have the credentials and contacts, can you tell me how we might develop this idea?
Imagine how good a prog might be if WE were keen to make it work!!! "Black Box" got a lot of airing in the UK and I doubt that there were many people on the inside keen to help the producers. "Airline" was a documentary centred on "people" rather than the technical side and the end result was not far different from Eastenders-in-an-airport.
Imagine how good a prog might be if WE were keen to make it work!!! "Black Box" got a lot of airing in the UK and I doubt that there were many people on the inside keen to help the producers. "Airline" was a documentary centred on "people" rather than the technical side and the end result was not far different from Eastenders-in-an-airport.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: third rock from the sun
Dear Danny,
Now you might suggest that the replies are being rude to miss journalist and that we are wrong. But I have seen my collegue pilot smashed rudely in the press once to often to remain quiet about it. Sure I won't start a new post attacking the press, but if this woman invites me, I will tell here how I feel about it, which is not good.
If you take ten aviation reports in the papers, how many of those are good journalism and how many are absolute crap? I think at the moment all ten. Now maybe this good woman is of a different kind, but I just don't think that the aviation community is served well by reporters and it is my good right as a pilot to be suspicisious to the lot of them.
Just a small note. I am a member of a pilot's union. They give you this card to keep in your wallet, just in case something bad happens. For you need reference at such a time. It is quite a long list but the first three points are:
1) Safe-guard the well being of your passengers
2) DO NOT talk to members of the press
3) call your union representative
Are these guys paranoid then as well? I think they learned from experience!
Now you might suggest that the replies are being rude to miss journalist and that we are wrong. But I have seen my collegue pilot smashed rudely in the press once to often to remain quiet about it. Sure I won't start a new post attacking the press, but if this woman invites me, I will tell here how I feel about it, which is not good.
If you take ten aviation reports in the papers, how many of those are good journalism and how many are absolute crap? I think at the moment all ten. Now maybe this good woman is of a different kind, but I just don't think that the aviation community is served well by reporters and it is my good right as a pilot to be suspicisious to the lot of them.
Just a small note. I am a member of a pilot's union. They give you this card to keep in your wallet, just in case something bad happens. For you need reference at such a time. It is quite a long list but the first three points are:
1) Safe-guard the well being of your passengers
2) DO NOT talk to members of the press
3) call your union representative
Are these guys paranoid then as well? I think they learned from experience!
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,581
Likes: 0
From: flyover country USA
Originally Posted by fortuna76
...
If you take ten aviation reports in the papers, how many of those are good journalism and how many are absolute crap? ...
If you take ten aviation reports in the papers, how many of those are good journalism and how many are absolute crap? ...
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: USA
Unstable approach:
I consult for a major news network in the USA. You mentioned you had never seen a story improving air safety. We did quite a bit on the "crushable concrete" ( emas) over-runs right after the Southwest Airlines over-run at Chicago Midway airport. I think this story at least sets the agenda to discuss installation of this system. (sadly, I had spoken to a US Congressman,like the house of commons I guess, over 10 years prior to the midway accident and encouraged installation at all airports especially midway, washington national, new york laguardia and San Francisco among others.)
I think as professional pilots we SHOULD speak out and use the media to advance safety concerns.
To the "lady" asking the questions about HELIOS, I have no clue on how to get hold of the "british" pilot on the previous flight.
There certainly is enough information out there about:
1.Easily confusing the warning horn for configuration and high cabin altitude. (remember, by the time it goes off you may already be slightly hypoxic)
Remember that in the simulator, where the pilots are trained to deal with this warning the pressure is sea level or ground level of simulator and the LACK OF OXYGEN at altitude is NOT simulated.
2.Incorrectly configuring the pressurization panel.
I do wish that Boeing and the others would change the high cabin altitude warning to a voice that screams: "OXYGEN.GET ON OXYGEN NOW"
regards
jon
I consult for a major news network in the USA. You mentioned you had never seen a story improving air safety. We did quite a bit on the "crushable concrete" ( emas) over-runs right after the Southwest Airlines over-run at Chicago Midway airport. I think this story at least sets the agenda to discuss installation of this system. (sadly, I had spoken to a US Congressman,like the house of commons I guess, over 10 years prior to the midway accident and encouraged installation at all airports especially midway, washington national, new york laguardia and San Francisco among others.)
I think as professional pilots we SHOULD speak out and use the media to advance safety concerns.
To the "lady" asking the questions about HELIOS, I have no clue on how to get hold of the "british" pilot on the previous flight.
There certainly is enough information out there about:
1.Easily confusing the warning horn for configuration and high cabin altitude. (remember, by the time it goes off you may already be slightly hypoxic)
Remember that in the simulator, where the pilots are trained to deal with this warning the pressure is sea level or ground level of simulator and the LACK OF OXYGEN at altitude is NOT simulated.
2.Incorrectly configuring the pressurization panel.
I do wish that Boeing and the others would change the high cabin altitude warning to a voice that screams: "OXYGEN.GET ON OXYGEN NOW"
regards
jon