Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

Sleepy NWA pilots?

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web
Arguing about policy my ***. These guys are going to be really sorry very soon. The NTSB has the tapes and I'm pretty sure we're going to find out there was no conversation going on st ALL. Maybe they were having a heated debate in sign language??
 
Arguing about policy my ***. These guys are going to be really sorry very soon. The NTSB has the tapes and I'm pretty sure we're going to find out there was no conversation going on st ALL. Maybe they were having a heated debate in sign language??

Maybe they were sending each other text messages........

Dick
 
When they playback the tape I think they'll find one of the quietest "heated discussions" ever.
 
not if they pressed the red ERASE button.

Yea right. They can still retrieve data off your hard drive even if you "erase" it. That button is just a feel good thing for us pilots.

Now, I'm not sure how much storage the Airbus CVR has. It is at least 30 minutes, but some can hold as much as 2 hours I believe. Not sure how long the return trip lasted once they turned around, so it may have gotten recorded over. Not sure if they can retrieve data once it has been recorded over.
 
Since a descent should have begun around 100 miles west of MSP and then they flew at 37000 to the airport and continued 150 miles past the airport, it seems they were not paying too much attention for at least 250 miles. Not to mention that according to the NTSB they were not talking to ATC for well over an hour. Unfortunately, the FAA may not be content with a simple letter in their file on this one.

Obviously, everyone has forgot to check on with ATC, missed a frequency change, or have been given a bad frequency. (one of which is probably where this thing started to go bad) After that I wonder if its another case of an improper range/scale selected on their tubes that initially masked their proximity to MSP. Then at some point they got into their heated debate and just checked out. Like other incidents in aviation, an error chain that keeps compounding

I feel for these guys and realize that they will probably pay a heavy price no matter what the FAA/company punishment is and for that reason I hope we can all learn something from this.
 
This was the lead story on Shepherd Smith's Fox Report tonight at 7pm and it flat out asked were these pilots were asleep?
 
From you Airbus guys/gals: What mode does the AP revert to once you reach the end of your flightplan?

I think the lateral mode just continues to track the last course it was flying. I've been off the plane for a few years, but I think that is correct.
 
Definitely, the cover up generally generates more backlash than the crime itself would have.

Tell the truth, we can work with you. Lie to us, we will hang you.

I agree. Honesty is always the best policy with matters like this.

Their story is hard to believe, but the CVR will exonerate them if they're being honest. If, however, they panicked and erased the tapes, they are rolling the dice that the NTSB can't retrieve that information.

How would you explain to management that you had erased the tapes? "We were arguing and there was some unprofessional comments made about the company, and we wanted to keep our private conversation private."

I would have more sympathy for these guys if it had been 3 A.M! But maybe they pushed it up the night before in the Gas Lamp?! (assuming they did fall asleep, which is the conclusion that makes the most sense).

Anybody know how much time an Airbus CVR records, and if the NTSB has ever recovered erased data?
 
Last edited:
*From you Airbus guys/gals: What mode does the AP revert to once you reach the end of your flightplan? *

Most likely heading mode with a corresponding triple click aural.
 
Oh boy. I agree, 15 pages of DAL basing please. Oh and yeah, can I have a side of fries with that?

Just getting going on page one. Which you are member by the way. Well done.

Now, as far as the "fries" - seems to me plenty of your fellow DL brethren, and many of my buds and neighbors are not shy about bashing airline "x" when they goof.

So, ACL let's hear the real deal. Any chance at all pilot error?

Thanks in advance for your consideration.
 
"IF" and I repeat "IF" fatigue is a factor in this I hope it puts to rest the retarded insane idea of doing transcon turns.
 
Not a good week for the best pilots in the world.

Delta land's on the taxiway and now DAL/NWA taking a nap at FL370. Glad to see you guy's are the best pilot's in the world.

Wind Check...................
 
Not a good week for the best pilots in the world.

................

Are there really idiots out there that think airline pilots are the BEST pilots in the world. Thats hilarious. They're responsible for all the airline crashes we've had over the years, 85% from pilot error.

You would think the unions would have fixed this fatigue issue long ago, but they can really care less either.
 
Not a good week for the best pilots in the world.

Delta land's on the taxiway and now DAL/NWA taking a nap at FL370. Glad to see you guy's are the best pilot's in the world.

Wind Check...................

Delta pilots are just too uptight man. look at the double breasted suit coat, the dorky hat, and if you put a lump of coal up their as@ you get a diamond after two weeks.

and now they have already screwed up NWA, just like AMR f'd up TWA. history repeats itself
 
HD, nice flame bait. Oh to live in a glass house, I do not.

My, .02 is also to come clean... but via your ALPA lawyer if it deals with the company only, and via your personal aviation lawyer and your ALPA lawyer if you are dealing with the FAA. That advice comes from experience, successfull experience FWIW.
 
Not a good week for the best pilots in the world.

Delta land's on the taxiway and now DAL/NWA taking a nap at FL370. Glad to see you guy's are the best pilot's in the world.

Wind Check...................

Dang!!!

WIND CHECK
 
Is the CVR tied to the rotating beacon on the A320? I have a friend that was working the ramp that night and said the beacon was left on long after the arrived at the gate. I wonder if they were trying to flush the CVR.
 
I don't know if it really matters whether or not they were asleep or arguing, by their own admission, they lost control of the airplane.
 
With regards to my CVR question, the more I think about I am pretty sure the CVR is working anytime the battery switch is on.
 
After passing over the last fix on the flightplan, heading-mode will take over on the current heading. Not track. (To get track you have to physically select TRK/FPA).
 

Latest resources

Back
Top Bottom