Vanity Fair article on the GOL 737 and Legacy mid-air

[j-3]

I don't think they intentionally turned the transponder OFF.

About 1:26 from the beginning of the tape they talk about the transponder.

N600XL:
Dude do you have the TCAS on?
Yes, the TCAS is OFF.

 

[Wanderlust]

I was impressed with the article. Well written, technically accurate. I don't think he's demonizing these guys, just writing frankly about the incident. And I have to agree, as much as I'd like to fly one, bizjets are abhorrent most of the time.

 

[BoilerUP]

And I have to agree, as much as I'd like to fly one, bizjets are abhorrent most of the time.

Explain yourself.

 

[COOPERVANE]

Good article. Excellent example of how it takes of a chain of events

 

[Abernathy]

I think the article is for the most part OK. I just think it's in the wrong magazine.

 

[j-3]

There are 5 videos, this one is Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbhwVLBZbYE

 

[172driver]

I was impressed with the article. Well written, technically accurate. I don't think he's demonizing these guys, just writing frankly about the incident. And I have to agree, as much as I'd like to fly one, bizjets are abhorrent most of the time.

WTF are you talking about? What's abhorrent is the state of the airline industry. It's like some horrible form of torture to have to ride on them, even in first class. Believe me, I did it for 14 hrs yesterday.

 

[Wanderlust]

I think it's a sign that something's terribly wrong with our economy when airlines are going bankrupt and parking their jets, and corporations are buying them as executive limousines. You guys don't find that abhorrent, especially when said corporations are announcing layoffs?

 

[Wanderlust]

I think the article is for the most part OK. I just think it's in the wrong magazine.

Why is it the wrong magazine? Do you ever read it?

 

[regionaltard]

No magazine that has pictures of partially clad women is the wrong magazine. Ever.

 

[Nevets]

ALPA Deplores Public Release of Fatal Accident Cockpit Voice Recording
Exploitation Demonstrates Immediate Need for Legal Protection
WASHINGTON—Capt. John Prater, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA), condemned the recent online publication of the cockpit voice recordings from the jet aircraft involved in a midair collision that took place more than two years ago. The audio recordings, which were released by the Brazilian prosecutor in the case, can be found in their entirety in the current online edition of a U.S. magazine.
“This type of exploitation is exactly why airline pilots the world over remain adamant that recording devices installed in our cockpits must be protected and kept absolutely private no matter where we fly,” said Prater. “In the United States and Canada, the release of such information by government investigative bodies is strictly controlled by law, but once a U.S. or Canadian aircraft leaves North America, these privacy protections evaporate.”
Professional pilots recognize the safety benefit of the cockpit voice recorder and allow that intrusion into their workplace to advance aviation safety, not to provide fodder for sensational journalism, explained Prater. The release of the audio recording of the final moments in the lives of the Gol B-737 pilots as they struggled to save their airliner and of the conversation of the ExcelAire crew have no place in the news media. Publication of these recordings in any form by the news media should be prohibited by law in every country.
Recent remarks by U.S. NTSB officials suggest that there would be benefit in additional recording capability. The NTSB has made such a recommendation on its list of “Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements.”
“The carelessness of the Brazilian government in releasing these recordings and the tasteless actions of this magazine in making the recordings available online for commercial gain threaten aviation safety and demonstrate once again that the cockpit recordings cannot be protected,” said Prater. “We cannot begin to have an objective discussion about the safety value of recording additional activity in the cockpit until our pilots have iron-clad assurances from the global aviation community, governments, and regulators that such recordings will be strictly controlled and used only for their intended purpose—enhancing flight safety.”
ALPA maintains that this problem must be addressed immediately. The union recognizes the need to broaden efforts to improve safety data collection but this must be balanced with the need to protect that data from misuse. ALPA has long underscored that other methods of obtaining higher-quality safety data exist without running the risk of egregious violations of pilots’ privacy. Capitalizing on higher-fidelity data recording, capturing the forces exerted on cockpit controls, and sampling greater numbers of flight parameters more often could all help obtain the objective data that would improve accident and incident investigation.
“ALPA calls on the incoming U.S. administration to work through the International Civil Aviation Organization to immediately set st

ALPA Says Brazilian Report Downplays ATC System Deficiencies in Midair Collision
ALPA has taken the position that a Brazilian report on a 2006 midair collision between an airliner and a business jet ignores the severity of the air traffic control system deficiencies that contributed to the tragedy. Moreover, the Brazilian legal system, by pursuing criminal prosecution of the pilots and controllers, is thwarting the global aviation industry’s ability to improve safety.
“The accident investigators found that this midair collision, like virtually all airline accidents, was the result of many factors,” said Capt. Rory Kay, ALPA’s executive air safety chairman. “In its report to the Brazilian government, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board lays out many safety concerns, including serious deficiencies in Brazil’s air traffic control system, and urges rapid improvements to help prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.”
ALPA maintains that the report issued by the Brazilian government fails to fully reflect the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) information and recommendations. “ALPA urges the Brazilian government to reevaluate their conclusions in light of the input made by their U.S. colleagues,” said Kay. “We encourage them to swiftly continue actions to enhance safety for all aircraft operating in Brazilian airspace.”
The Association’s pilots have long recognized that the goal of accident investigation is to learn everything possible about how to prevent a similar accident from happening again. ALPA, which is the world’s largest nongovernmental aviation safety and security organization, asserts that criminalizing those involved does nothing to achieve that goal.
“The facts clearly show that there are opportunities to improve the aviation system by addressing deficiencies in the air traffic control system, potential design problems with the aircraft, and mistakes by the professionals,” said Capt. John Prater, ALPA’s president. “It is equally clear that no person acted with any intent to do harm.”
ALPA’s Safety Committee has long held among its top priorities developing regulatory and investigative policies to prevent the criminalization of aircraft incidents and accidents throughout the world.
“The threat of criminal prosecution hinders information-gathering and data-sharing, which form the foundation of accident investigation,” continued Prater. “Pursuing prosecution for the alleged mistakes of professional airmen is misguided and incompatible with preventing future accidents.”
ALPA calls on aviation professionals in government and industry throughout the world to create an environment that fosters a “just culture” in which identification of safety deficiencies is used only for the purpose of making the aviation system as safe as possible.
“ALPA urges the Brazilian government in the strongest terms possible to abandon this ill-conceived effort to arbitrarily assign criminal liability in this accident,” concluded Prater. “Our society must honor all who have suffered by making theirs a legacy of a safer air transportation system.”

 

[BoilerUP]

I think it's a sign that something's terribly wrong with our economy when airlines are going bankrupt and parking their jets, and corporations are buying them as executive limousines. You guys don't find that abhorrent, especially when said corporations are announcing layoffs?

Airlines are going bankrupt and parking their jets because of high costs, inefficient asset utilization, and an inability (or unwillingness) to price tickets high enough to at least break even due to competition.

Businesses purchase aircraft (or shares of aircraft) because, on the whole, airline service isn't reliable and/or convenient enough for them to effectively manage and grow. Business aircraft are expensive to purchase and expensive to operate; airlines have them beat on cost nearly every single time. Cost's isn't the primary driver though - time is. That aircraft isn't the "executive limousine" you proclaim it to be; its a time machine for those who ride on it. There's nothing abhorent in somebody paying through the nose (compared to an airline ticket) to have the convenience of their own aircraft...at least no more abhorent than people owning automobiles in leiu of using public transportation.

And I challenge you to name one corporation that is adding aircraft to their fleet (replacements don't count) while laying off employees.

 

[Abernathy]

Why is it the wrong magazine? Do you ever read it?

No, the magazine is fine. And yes I read it on occasion. But that kind of analysis of an airline accident is more suited to publications that cater to an audience of pilots/controllers. NASA publication, etc. Esp. since CVR transcripts were involved.

 

[flynryan15]

No magazine that has pictures of partially clad BEATIFUL women is the wrong magazine. Ever.

I fixed your quote

 

[Flyer1015]

No magazine that has pictures of partially clad women is the wrong magazine. Ever.

It would be if it featured mainline FAs!