Air France 447, automation and the pilot

[igneousy2]

Anyone who does not understand Radar usage has no business in the left seat of a transport category aircraft

Either Seat.

 

[SpauldingSmails]

Either Seat.

I agree to an extent , except that most folks' first exposure to radar, or a useful radar, is in a transport category airplane. So, you've gotta expect a little bit of learning curve or adjustment and experimentation period. Thus, any PIC should really be proficient and in tune with any pitfalls.

 

[nwaf16dude]

Perhaps...but not according to the BEA final report. Also, isn't there debate concerning the whereabouts of the Captain once he left the flight deck?.

If I recall correctly from the book, the Captain didn't acknowledge the repeated calls from the crew with the normal "knock" on the wall. Furthermore, I believe the author (Palmer) remarks about the way the Captain enters the flight deck as if he was not answering a call. Instead, he believes the Captain was returning to the flight deck because of his own curiosity and not from the rest area.

So his actions leaving the flight deck and before returning are questionable, and for me, where he is most culpable - not his actions once he was back in the flight deck.

Again, it was a stall accident above everything else. For two professional pilots unable to maintain straight and level flight for 1 minute while hand flying is baffling to me...and where the blame should be placed.

Finally got around to reading the book. Should have read it before chiming in. Great read and I highly recommend it to all, not just airbus guys. Didn't realize the captain was only gone for about 10 minutes before the event began, or how quickly it became unrecoverable.

Ignore my previous post.