the unfathomable:regional crew attempted takeoff with one engine turning

[Lear70]

However... If you are going to hold them to such a high standard...

What high standard would that be? Oh, you mean actually being a PROFESSIONAL PILOT? Who the hell tries to take off with only one engine running???

As far as one of the posters talking about single-engine taxis, you must not jumpseat much on Major carriers. Quite a few of them do it, including Southwest and AirTran. Haven't heard of any of THOSE pilots trying to take off with one engine.

You get the wrong flaps setting? OK, fine, you get the takeoff config warning, reject the T/O, exit the runway, re-set and re-run the checklist slower and more methodically, no harm no foul. But the engine? Are you F***ing SERIOUS??!!

The mistake was only corrected because engineers have ALMOST completely idiot proofed the cockpit. How long would it have taken them to figure out what was going on without the T/O config warning?
I don't understand how you all think these kinds of mistakes are acceptable. Obviously they didn't even glance at the EICAS before taking the runway.

Agreed. Hellooooo.... "EICAS checked? - Clear". Ummm, what's with the extra 4 or 5 Warning and Caution messages? Oh yeah, an engine's not running..."

Yes, I've flown the RJ - an engine not running has enough Caution and Warning messages that this simple step makes it almost impossible to miss... Seriously, WTF??

Now after this rant, if I find out this was all a hoax, then fine, excuse my rant, but seriously, if it WASN'T?? I don't agree with calling the Feds (and certainly NOT calling the media), but if I was this guy's chief pilot, both pilots would be sitting through FULL Initial training again (with the cut in pay that it comes with), the Capt busted down to an F/O for a year, and the entire pilot pool notified that the next person to do it would be looking for a new job.

You give people the chance to fix their mistakes,,, NOT hang them out to dry with the FAA and the media.

 

[skywav8r]

What high standard would that be? Oh, you mean actually being a PROFESSIONAL PILOT? Who the hell tries to take off with only one engine running???

As far as one of the posters talking about single-engine taxis, you must not jumpseat much on Major carriers. Quite a few of them do it, including Southwest and AirTran. Haven't heard of any of THOSE pilots trying to take off with one engine.
.

Guess you've never heard of a 727. Get a group of major airline pilots in a room that flew the 727 for a few years. Ask them how many times they tried to take off with only two engines running. You must live in a glass house.

 

[Kroll]

but if I was this guy's chief pilot, both pilots would be sitting through FULL Initial training again (with the cut in pay that it comes with), the Capt busted down to an F/O for a year, and the entire pilot pool notified that the next person to do it would be looking for a new job.

Thats why your not a chief pilot. We are all human and make mistakes. Most of us get away with the stupid things we do. In some cases we need a little grace and will learn from the mistake we've made. There are tons of distractions in our flight decks today. We must do our best to stay on task while making this job fun. If this is true they should get there hands slapped and a memo should be generated. We can all learn from this. (theres always a up-tight weinnie in the back that wants your tickets).

 

[MikeSF340]

On the ERJ there are almost NO EICAS messages when only one engine is running. Also, the T/O config check does not check for only one engine running. I'm not excusing this, but I can see how it can happen. I don't see how this is any worse than CONTINENTAL forgetting to use the rudder in a 50kt crosswind takeoff.

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

RUFKM. I have over 4000 hrs in the 3 holer and never tried a 2 engine T/O and never heard of anyone else. Please tell me where you work and I will try to stay away. Unfortunately for me looking at your profile with M88, and 757-767 you might be at Delduh and I will have a hard time avoiding your airline.

Guess you've never heard of a 727. Get a group of major airline pilots in a room that flew the 727 for a few years. Ask them how many times they tried to take off with only two engines running. You must live in a glass house.

 

[densoo]

Sure glad the Feds have us stating "runway xx verified" every time we take off now. What's next, "both engines running, verified." Soon to come, "don't hit the mountain, verified."

 

[Lear70]

Guess you've never heard of a 727. Get a group of major airline pilots in a room that flew the 727 for a few years. Ask them how many times they tried to take off with only two engines running. You must live in a glass house.

No, never heard of the 727, funny that it's a type rating on my certificate (and in my profile listings of aircraft flown), wonder how *THAT* happened...?

No, I don't live in a glass house. I've made mistakes, certainly, in both seats, but I don't see how the HELL you miss starting an engine. It's a little scary that some of you are advocating this is just a minor issue... Maybe I hold myself, and this profession, to a higher standard. Our passengers put their lives in our hands, I expect nothing less than a pilot's absolute best. This wasn't it.

And maybe you're right that it's good I'm not a Chief Pilot (it's not a job I ever wanted), but the best Chief Pilots I ever had were the ones who busted my butt when I screwed up, made me bear the consequences of my actions, but in a reasonable way. Don't think making those pilots spend some time back in the school house (and the Captain having to sit in the right seat again for a while) is all that bad, considering the seriousness of what they did.

YMMV

 

[Mike man]

if it's the first flight of the day then sorry.

not true...you could be fatigued. Think...room party in hotel near your room.

I had that happen once is GSP, it was a weekend night and a high school party took place on the floor I was staying on...I was up almost all night, and thus fatigued, and made the appropriate phone call around 3AM when it was clear that my 430A wake up call was too soon to get any sleep, crew scheduling even heard the noise in the background when I walked into the hallway when they were upset about the f-word on an overnight.

 

[stlflyguy]

Worst of all, the original poster is talking about a Regional Crew....in the majors section. Blasphemy!

 

[nerjdriver]

this morning out of GSO our erj 145 crew flying us en route to O Hare took a takeoff clearance on runway 23. took it on the roll and lined up, applied full power. within seconds the flight spoilers deployed. at the exit, i noticed along with another pax, and a another major airline pilot, that #1 was spooling up. we all heard it. we confronted the crew at the gate. they missed it and they confessed. I called the feds. the insanity stops. this is unfathomable..

the tower said they didn't mention it...go figure...but one thing is clear ..they took the runway, lined up, applied full power to two, and then aborted, the spoilers deployed...


this story may break in the next few days... #1 was not running......

Hey lord high and mighty of the skies, are you telling us that you sh*& doesn't stink. Sounds like the crew made a mistake, and took the action to correct it.

I CANNOT WAIT for your blunder one day, we will all celebrate the day you are kicked to the curb with no opportunity to return.

Scab.

 

[nerjdriver]

On the ERJ there are almost NO EICAS messages when only one engine is running. Also, the T/O config check does not check for only one engine running. I'm not excusing this, but I can see how it can happen. I don't see how this is any worse than CONTINENTAL forgetting to use the rudder in a 50kt crosswind takeoff.

Continental was MUCH WORSE. Reference the airplane on fire on the side of the runway broken into three peices. I also find it interesting that the cause of mainline accidents is also pilot error, and often very senior pilot error.

This profession does not have room for the "I am a better pilot than everybody else because I have been doing it longer than you" mentality. Those individuals that exhibit the "macho" behavior referenced in the AIM and should be treated as the threat they truly are.

 

[Lear70]

Worst of all, the original poster is talking about a Regional Crew....in the majors section. Blasphemy!

Good point.

Fixed.

/mod

 

[hou757]

I have contacted a major newspaper reporter who covered the colgan crash....this is for the families of the victims of colgan 3407 and comair out of Lex...people don't need to die on order for change to occur. we fix this now. a few bad apples will ruin the bushel

You sir are NO realmanofgenius..

 

[realmanofgenius]

alright, just got to asia..let me address this...first;the insults: back at you. myself, another major airline pilot, and four witnesses observed it, heard #1 get started after we exited. the other pilot and myself both agreed this was most incompentent act any airline pilot coud ever do.

ask the families of those marvin winslow took away if they think I'm a DB...

to want to cover up this kind of incompetence,wrecklessness and dereliction of duty has no defense....

I have contacted a journalist....No reply...CNN would love it....it shows the regionals need to weed out the marginal pilots immediately. the public and congress, my wife and kids might disagree with you. shame on you for wanting to sweep an attempted takeoff on one engine under the rug...

these guys knew I meant it and if you think me and the other guy were walking off without addressing them, you're drunk, a fellow loser, or have a twisted view of what is ethically,professionally and morally right. two know crashes, comair and colgan, came from derelict acts and incompentence...sorry it ends now...I won't have the blood of passengers on my hands since I witnessed along with a fellow major aviator this unprecedented act of wreckless endangerment....there is a level when you say, I can't look the other way...today was it...

so, in sum, F U!!! also, I willl see the ASAP , I willl speak to their DO, company CEO and If I find out they lied.... their display of total incompentence makes me think..what happens when they do lose one, what happens in a rapid decom, dual hyd failure, dual elect, shoot single elect...basically they don't deserve to fly airliners...

since we're all still alive, I can say this...but because I had another guy to verify my thoughts,opinions, and reaction...we're in fulll agreement.

they better not lie on that ASAP since they both admitted it to me and another pilot..


i don't mind having dialog on this after all, I did not name any specifics subject to a complete inquiry... no free pass on this one...to excuse this which is what you detractors are doing can only suggest you don't think the guys at comair or colgan did anything wrong or wreckless.

what I'm for: ridding the low paid profession of loser pilots who denigrate the rest of us and kill people. by doing so, drive wages back up...and saving lives...after today, I have seen it all

 

[hou757]

I seriously doubt that you know all the facts of what happened in that cockpit. If you were a "realmanofgenius" you would have taken time to get more info from the crew and their company/union before "contacting a journalist" as you say you have. That sir is your biggest mistake. I'm glad to see you are flying in a foreign land. I don't think many would want to fly with you here... Good day!