Comair FO leaves hospital for rehab

[Fugawe]

Guitar rocker,

I understand your idea -- accountability. It is sorely lacking in society today ........everyone's a victim. Like Tim Foley now citing his abuse by a priest 50 years ago (?) as an excuse.

But.........to crucify this FO before any investigation closure is flat wrong. It appears pilot error is a major factor, but too many times we've seen mitigating factors.

--hypothetical--
So now this FO sits in the cockpit and someone boards screaming 'aren't you the FO who killed 49 people...........?' He may try to reply that he was the FO but the investigation proves they were misled by heading errors, controller mistakes, airfield mismarkings, etc. Doesn't matter what he says, the media and fellow pilots (like this forum) have already crucified this guy.

If you have the flying time your avatar info indicates, then you've been in many 'square corners' in your flying. You know that 'but for the grace of God' you've not bent metal or worse.

If he is incompetent, and fully at fault, let the boards decide. To pre-judge and vilify does no one any good, and only heightens the uneducated and knee-jerk media and public reaction against pilots.

Fugawe

 

[Guitar rocker]

Look at the taxi time between the terminal and where 26 lies at LEX....really short taxi. Lets say the cptn taxis out and FO is heads down and busy running all the checklists.......by the time he is done, verifies that the final is clear and says it's all complete, he looks up and they are on the runway and the captain is ready to roll. The FO was just doing his job and the checklists....and thought that the captain was on 22. That short of a taxi, he cant have his head out of the aircraft the entire time watching the captain or where they are going. And a lot of times when we fly with somone, we do assume that when your heads down that the other guy knows where he is going as a result of previously being at that airport or after discussing the taxi route before taxiing. I do know that I have been in situations exactly like that as I am sure that we all have.

But, we cant just rampantly say that the FO should never fly again. Lets wait for the final word from the NTSB so we know exactly what happened in this case.

 

[Fugawe]

Guitar rocker,

My bad -- you and I are on the same page here, I was replying to 'pilot125' that you quoted in your post.

Good points you make too.


Fugawe

 

[pilot125]

Guitar rocker and Fugawe,

I do understand where you guys are coming from, I reallly do. And remember, I'm just offering my opinions and beliefs about this subject. I'm not saying that I'm right and you're wrong- I'm guessing that half the members on this forum would agree with me, and half would agree with you.

The whole school bus example, though, doesn't sit well with me. If a bus driver is involved in an accident and it kills 3 kids, and it was just that, an accident that could NOT be avoided, then OK, he/she may be able to return to their job. But, if that driver is found negligent, then no, that person does NOT belong behind the wheel of a bus that carries children, or even adults- NEVER again. It would be time for a career change. Should he be able to keep his driver's license, sure. Guess we could go back and forth on this example, so I'll just move on to my next point.

Accidents, such as this Comair one, happen. We all know this. If it is found that it was more than likely an unavoidable accident where the crew was facing impossible or near impossible odds of performing the task at hand, then so be it, he definitely should be given an opportunity to resume his flying career.

BUT, if this accident is found to be the result of the crew's incompetence, inattention, or negligence, then you better believe that this FO does not deserve another opportunity as a professional pilot! You do not get second and third chances when a large number of people are dead as the direct/indirect result of YOUR actions! That's not going to happen!!!

And I know, I am doing nothing but speculate at this point. I do realize that the final report is not out yet, so please refrain from the FLAMING I'm going to get because of what I'm saying. I know, THE FINAL REPORT IS NOT COMPLETE, I know!!!!!!

But until then, all we can do is speculate. This is supposed to be a forum for all of us to vent, discuss topics, and throw out opinions. So give me a break, and let us all discuss this crash and offer our perspectives of it.........I mean no disrespect to the FO, I'm sure he is a real stand-up guy with a good heart, and excellent piloting skills. I'm not trying to vilify him, not at all. I'm just trying to understand this crash and offer my view on it, whether it happened the way I think it happened or maybe some other way with circumstances that I know nothing about. I'm going to speculate, and if something were to happen to any one of us tomorrow, it goes without saying that the rest of us would be speculating and drawing our own conclusions 3 minutes after it happened without knowing the full facts of the case and without the FINAL REPORT..............

So flame away, but I'm just like everybody else on this board. I'm not trying to flame, and I'm not trying to act holier-than-thou, and I'm not trying to be sarcastic, or an a**hole, and so on......

Guitar rocker and Fugawe, I agree with the both of you about pulling for this FO in his recovery and rehab, he definitely has an uphill battle ahead of him. And along with you guys, I hope he returns to a normal life mentally and emotionally stronger, and I hope he does something that makes him happy and content in life. (I just don't think it should be as a prof. pilot -- IF THE REPORT COMES BACK saying that the crew made some bad choices that caused 49 people to lose their precious lives).

 

[Guitar rocker]

125, I see that you changed your tone somewhat. And I would more agree with what you said at this point regarding negligence. Previously you mentioned, "he should never fly professionally again".....regardless of the outcome or final report. Assume that they were "checking it out" to see if it could takeoff in 26 even though the numbers showed otherwise. Gross negligence is a whole different situation. But really, I cant imagine that anyone of us in their right mind would even think of it. That would be like trying to land a 737 on 33R in BOS just to see if yah could do it. I'm sure thats not the case in this situation.

 

[pilot125]

Imagine that- we agree on something.........I think. Anyway, I'm just trying to say how important accountability is in everything we do as aviators, as well as human beings.

Anyway, I've just doubled my post count these past two days, so I'm gonna just chill out for awhile.

I sincerely do wish all the best to the Comair FO and hope everything works out for him, and I wish him luck and good fortune in whatever he decides to pursue in the future!

Rock on, and I look forward to many more dicussions and debates here on this forum!

 

[time builder]

The question posed earlier was: would you fly with him?
As pilots, many of us can say yes, but I understand your point about a passenger, many of them freak out over any little thing they can find.

Even though it can be viewed an isolated incident to the aviation community, the general public can be very judgemental and unforgiving. All the more credit to a pilot who can jump back on and overcome this.