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Air France A-340 down in YYZ

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While much of the criticism of the media may be deserved, the fact is that it is not as easy as one thinks. These times when an unexpected story pops like an air crash, it is extremely hard to get information yet there you are with a camera and microphone live and you have to talk, think. and listen, all at the same time.

Secondly, even if you have some knowledge about it, you have to be able to communicate it in a way that makes sense to the average listener.

I got the call from CNN on my way home to take my son to baseball. I was trying to listen to the local news to get information as I am talking to CNN about the accident, windshear, and microburst. Most of the producers have a list of people that they call about a specific subject. They then have to find that person and see what information that they have and set up a live feed and satillite connection and a studio.

Had I decided to go forth with an on air interview, I would have had to drive to the studio location they arranged, been hooked up, and then wait for broadcast time that matched sat time. I then have to communicate what a microburst is in language that people sitting at home can understand--- try it. And try it with a bunch of voices talking into your earpiece.

Trust me, on more than one occassion I have wondered why I said what I did. It is not easy.
 
DAS at 10/250 said:
Yes the media does a bad job of reporting on aviation. But what do you expect from non-aviation people? How well could most of you report on stastical analysis or bio-engineering? Yes you are the experts. You do this for a living and should be well versed in aviation. But instead of whinning on this board and sending hate emails why don't you spend your energy saying a prayer for these poor people or at least wishing them the best of luck. A lot of people lost someone they love today. Somebody's kid is dead. Somebody's dad is gone. Somebody's mother is never coming home.

Sorry for the rant but I'm tired or hearing how much the regionals suck, how underpaid you are, and how much Wolf Blitzer sucks. Lots of people are sitting at home dying inside wondering if their loved one is alive. Give the bitching a rest.

DAS
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I agree. Most people here with comments debunking all of the commentary from the media are attempting to justify their jobs and experience. Who cares??? So what if the reporter who makes $250,000 a year knows nothing about aviation.
It sounds like the guys from "The revenge of the Nerds."
"Hey Gilbert, these guys don't know squat about FMS or DH. They think RVR is some kind of stream.........Duh, Louis. I laugh at all of the passengers as they get off this aerodynamic wonder that we electronically manipulate."

Believe it or not guys, today most people feel sorry for us white collar wannabees. Looking down on them is akin to us looking down on WN pax.
 
Publishers said:
While much of the criticism of the media may be deserved, the fact is that it is not as easy as one thinks. These times when an unexpected story pops like an air crash, it is extremely hard to get information yet there you are with a camera and microphone live and you have to talk, think. and listen, all at the same time.

Secondly, even if you have some knowledge about it, you have to be able to communicate it in a way that makes sense to the average listener.

I got the call from CNN on my way home to take my son to baseball. I was trying to listen to the local news to get information as I am talking to CNN about the accident, windshear, and microburst. Most of the producers have a list of people that they call about a specific subject. They then have to find that person and see what information that they have and set up a live feed and satillite connection and a studio.

Had I decided to go forth with an on air interview, I would have had to drive to the studio location they arranged, been hooked up, and then wait for broadcast time that matched sat time. I then have to communicate what a microburst is in language that people sitting at home can understand--- try it. And try it with a bunch of voices talking into your earpiece.

Trust me, on more than one occassion I have wondered why I said what I did. It is not easy.
Click to expand...

That's why they should ask peope that hava a lot of experience on the subject, not some guy who just got his private. And if they have to come up with something to ssay, it's better to just describe the known facts over and over than to come up with a bunch of ASSumptions without the info or knowledge to back them up.

That guy Miles was having the best day of his life there, and when they called Miles' friend (The 330 ret.pilot) you could hear on his voice that he was thinking "God this clown doesn't know his ass from his head"
 
Regardless of whether the reporter is informed about aviation, I would hope the media would be responsible enough to interview those that do have the information, not the first person that appears in front of their equipment.
 
baba booey

where were the howard stern callers today? they normally invade cnn when big news hits.
 
Tripower455 said:
LOL.... I agree.... what a bunch of idiots......

He told them that if there is a tailwind, that a wing can't fly.......
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That's just a reflection of the "idiot" CFI's out there filling space in the right seat instead of teaching, don't always blame the pilot, he only knows what he was taught.

There are very few CFI's I will even let look at my plane let alone touch it.


BTW, it's been confirmed the plane was hit by lightning per most of the passengers and the airbus captain.
 
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Fortunately the aircraft didn't burst into flames immediately, giving the crew enough time to do their jobs without any fatalities. When is a crewmember worth X dollars? When it's your butt (or company) that they are saving.
Kudos to the crew.

Publishers,
It may not be easy to do, but it is ALL too easy to completely ruin a chance to educate the public and the media properly. If it's too tough for you to handle, then don't volunteer. Why is it that they couldn't get an aviation expert (a REAL one...and being a pilot doesn't make you an expert), maybe one who is well versed in wx issues, to discuss the accident with? Why did it have to be a private pilot who has never experienced anything remotely close to what he was trying to talk about?
The media has a responsibility to report facts and to present the public with very well informed people when they do interviews. Consistently, the media fails to do this. That is a problem. And it is partially due to us pilots. Specifically the ones will very little experience that get a hard-on when the media calls them asking for their "expert" opinion. If you are well versed in what they want to talk about, then go for it, if you happen to be on air and they ask you something that you don't know, don't B.S. it, just decline to offer saying that you don't know enough about the subject to answer it properly. If you just recieved a phone call but you don't know the subject matter very well, decline and if you can, give them the name of someone who knows what they are talking about. But for God's sake, PLEASE don't go on the air with millions of viewers/listeners and spew verbal poo out of your mouth. It does a disservice to us all.
 
IMHO, the pax, the crew all survived than props to the flight crew and cabin crew they did exactly what they were trained to do and did a great job of an emergency evacuation...thank God!
 
Flying Illini said:
But for God's sake, PLEASE don't go on the air with millions of viewers/listeners and spew verbal poo out of your mouth.
Click to expand...
If god didn't him to go on television and spew verbal poo out of his mouth, he wouldn't have gave him a verbal poo hole to spew it out of.
 
Airbus has just put out a code red alert asking anyone who has knowledge of either of the pilots flying the A340 using aggresive rudder movements during landing so their attorneys can get on with their pilot error investigation. Heresay or second hand info is also welcome. This info has worked very well in the past and as in the AA587 crash has bailed them out handsomely. Thanks.
 
Passengers are reporting that the lights went completely dark in the cabin just before landing. Perhaps a lighting strike somehow effected the fly-by-wire controls of the underpowered Airbus causing an inability of the crew to control the aircraft. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were the case and the E-N-T-I-R-E Airbus fleet was grounded!!
 
Steveair said:
Passengers are reporting that the lights went completely dark in the cabin just before landing. Perhaps a lighting strike somehow effected the fly-by-wire controls of the underpowered Airbus causing an inability of the crew to control the aircraft. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were the case and the E-N-T-I-R-E Airbus fleet was grounded!!
Click to expand...

I don't particularly think so but hey, if it gets you off.
 
Steveair said:
Passengers are reporting that the lights went completely dark in the cabin just before landing. Perhaps a lighting strike somehow effected the fly-by-wire controls of the underpowered Airbus causing an inability of the crew to control the aircraft. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were the case and the E-N-T-I-R-E Airbus fleet was grounded!!
Click to expand...

About as nice as if the entire RJ fleet was grounded. Nice comment dumb ass!
 
schmooze said:
The eerie thing about this, is that today is the anniversary of the 1985 Delta L-1011 crash in DFW. Close to the same scenario with the thunderstorms and windshear. Kind of ironic.
Click to expand...
Coincidental, perhaps. Not very ironic.
 
Publishers said:
While much of the criticism of the media may be deserved, the fact is that it is not as easy as one thinks. These times when an unexpected story pops like an air crash, it is extremely hard to get information yet there you are with a camera and microphone live and you have to talk, think. and listen, all at the same time.

Secondly, even if you have some knowledge about it, you have to be able to communicate it in a way that makes sense to the average listener.

I got the call from CNN on my way home to take my son to baseball. I was trying to listen to the local news to get information as I am talking to CNN about the accident, windshear, and microburst. Most of the producers have a list of people that they call about a specific subject. They then have to find that person and see what information that they have and set up a live feed and satillite connection and a studio.

Had I decided to go forth with an on air interview, I would have had to drive to the studio location they arranged, been hooked up, and then wait for broadcast time that matched sat time. I then have to communicate what a microburst is in language that people sitting at home can understand--- try it. And try it with a bunch of voices talking into your earpiece.

Trust me, on more than one occassion I have wondered why I said what I did. It is not easy.
Click to expand...

First off, you don't have to do anything. You go on to CNN by choice. I can't say you are a media whore because I don't know you, but one does question why you would go on T.V and speculate the cause of the crash. Are you paid to go on CNN and speculate? The next time you go on the air for CNN and someone asks you what may have happened say that it is too early to tell, there isn't enough information and lets wait for the CTSB to determine the cause. No instead media hounds ask what if questions to embelish to the audience that they have experts who can tell exactly what happened 10 minutes after a crash.

In the minutes just after a crash the media went through the entire spectrum of what could have happened. Microburst, windshear, landing in a tailwind, brake failure,struck by lightening, hydroplaning, pilot error. Instead of scareing the public who already is afraid of flying, emphasize the excellent safety record the airlines have. Emphasize the training the crew has to help you if the need arises.
 
transpondersoff said:
The next time you go on the air for CNN and someone asks you what may have happened say that it is too early to tell, there isn't enough information and lets wait for the CTSB to determine the cause.

Instead of scareing the public who already is afraid of flying, emphasize the excellent safety record the airlines have. Emphasize the training the crew has to help you if the need arises.
Click to expand...

Amen, Brotha!
 
Have you guys heard the "verbal poo" coming from this lady's mouth?

Gwen Dunlop:

While most pax praised the flight crew's handling of the situation, Toronto resident Gwen Dunlop offered a different perspective.
"The oxygen masks never came down, the plane was filling up with smoke. One of the hosteses said, "you can calm down, it's OK" and yet the plane was on fire and smoke was pouring in," she said. "I don't like to criticize, but the staff did not seem helpful or prepared."

Screw you lady, that "unprepared" crew saved your arse!

I like the part about the O2 masks. They aren't supposed to drop lady. What are you going to do, put on your mask as you evacuate the airplane?! :rolleyes: What an ungrateful b!tch!

Again, a big thumbs up to the entire crew for the positive outcome from this tragic accident.
 
I did decline because I did not have sufficient access to information to talk about the accident. Of course this is why they find some private pilot because they are looking for someone to talk besides the anchor.

I was not defending them as much as trying to explain why at crunch time it is difficult to find someone to articulate the situation and to do it in a way that makes sense to the non flying public in 10 second answers.

Just saying it was an act of God smiting the aircraft does not do it. Explaining relative wind, ground speed, airspeed, microburst, is not that easy. I know when I was in one it was a clear night, only one single cumulus cloud almost directly over the airport I was approaching. It was literally like that hand of God pushing the aircraft down, airspeed going to hell, and trying to climb with no result. Gear up, flaps retracted, nose up, power max and barely staying at the same altitude for like 20 seconds.
 
Publishers, I understand this and please don't think I am attacking you. The general public is really not smart enough to understand relative wind, microburst, and groundspeed. Even if you put these in lay terms the fear the public has can not be overcome. They do infact think the hand of god slams them into the ground. They fear the unknown and because they are afraid they really won't comprehend it. It is like trying to explain to a person who has never been in a plane how to recover from a spin as you are doing them. They are litterally crapping thier pants and hearing ..blah..blah...blah.

The media is doing the best they can to feed the fears by bringing experts on T.V. and asking them questions that are not even relevant. The media knows enough about windshear and microbursts but they will paint you into a corner by recalling all kinds of accidents that are not the same. They won't go into the quick actions the flight crew took to get everybody off the plane and out of harms way. Instead they try to point out that the airplane is engulfed in flames and can carry 300 some odd people. They don't really draw conclusions but try to keep the story running. The story was simple, the plane overran the runway, all on the plane survived because of the training and quick actions of the crew, the CTSB is investigating.
 
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Steveair said:
Passengers are reporting that the lights went completely dark in the cabin just before landing. Perhaps a lighting strike somehow effected the fly-by-wire controls of the underpowered Airbus causing an inability of the crew to control the aircraft. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were the case and the E-N-T-I-R-E Airbus fleet was grounded!!
Click to expand...

So how would that be wonderful? I-D-I-O-T..!!
 
Originally Posted by Steveair
Passengers are reporting that the lights went completely dark in the cabin just before landing. Perhaps a lighting strike somehow effected the fly-by-wire controls of the underpowered Airbus causing an inability of the crew to control the aircraft. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that were the case and the E-N-T-I-R-E Airbus fleet was grounded!!

QUOTE=SennaP1]So how would that be wonderful? I-D-I-O-T..!![/QUOTE]

Steveair is either a french hater, a boeing supporter, or has a lot of money invested in Boeing. My take is let the CTSB investigate and determine what happened. That is why they make the big bucks.
 

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