There was a day when an accident occurred that the NTSB would investigate, and they would try to figure out what happened. I say try, because when pilots perish in the accident, we can never truly know what happened and what was going through their minds. Only speculation based upon what the NTSB identifies in the crash. But these accidents would become the focus of airlines’ human factors and training departments. There was a time when there was an effort to learn from accidents and ensure that the event would never happen again. We would train to the event. The focus was on improvement. Now the airline hides to avoid accountability, future training and safety be damned.
Where did Improvement go?
Captain Sullenberger survived after a dual engine failure due to a birdstrike. How many airlines began training for a dual engine failure? Jeju subsequently crashed after losing two engines due to a bird strike, yet still is anyone training for a dual engine failure? Then Air India crashed after a dual engine failure, for another reason, yet, how many airlines are training to teach pilots what to do if they lost both engines? Where is the learning with these accidents? Jeju is silent. Air India is silent. And Delta has two living pilots and forcing them to remain silent.
When the Pilots Live
Sullenberger’s crew enabled us to learn from what happened because he spoke in front of the NTSB. He told us. This is how we learn. Why are we not hearing from the pilots of the Endeavor Crash? Why is the Canadian Transportation Board hiding the voice recorder? When the pilots live, this is a gift to immediately find out what happened, what the pilots were thinking, their challenges, and focus, etc. Why did the young first officer with limited experience continue with a GPWS warning? Was she prompted to by the Captain to continue? Why did they not go around? Why was she not able to manage the mass with a high sink rate? He was an instructor, why did he not fly the approach?
This is a debrief that belongs to the world and all pilots alike, so we can all learn. Every training department should have this information. Instead, Delta is hiding it, and in my case threatening a lawsuit against (only) me for speaking out about the accident. What is it they are trying to hide?
Why is Delta Hiding this Information?
Nobody died. There is only one reason this information is not disclosed, and that is because Delta is hiding something. They are hiding behind the investigation. Whereas these pilots should be the investigation. What can they possibly learn from the crashed plane that these pilots cannot tell the investigators? Nothing. This should be an opportunity to learn from what happened so it won’t again.
Delta is fighting hard to dismiss my current AIR21 claim. I don’t know if I will persevere the motion to dismiss phase, but I pray there will be justice. My case is based upon my writing about the Endeavor crash, and Delta selecting me out to threaten. I hope we can proceed and I will be allowed to depose the pilots so we can find out what happened, and prevent it from happening again. This is not to place blame on the pilots, but to learn what happened and strive for improvement.
4 Comments
Karlene,
Do you not think the NTSB and the TSB of Canada are thoroughly investigating this? Do you think the pilots have not been interviewed? There’s a very thorough and lengthy investigation process (in both countries) that must be completed before we hear about the accident.
You seem to be slyly imply the pilots are fault, just as you did months ago when you blasted their face and names all over the internet trying to blame them for accident without knowing one iota of information about the cause(s) of the accident.
Troy
Troy, there is nothing sly about my writing. I say it as I see it. The pilots crashed that plane. No question. We know the flight attendants weren’t in control and passengers were not in control. Who do you think crashed it? God sure did not do it. The question is, are they in at fault as “YOU” assert or was it because the airline did not give appropriate training? One event leads to the other. I say the first officer did not receive adequate training. The captain who was also an instructor, we don’t know what the heck he was doing…. clearly not his job. There is a reason nobody is releasing that information. What you think the reason is? We need to learn from this and without it, we cannot learn.
You’re right, we have lots to learn from this crash. But you failed to address the fact that two countries are conducting an investigation about an accident. Why accuse any one or any company of something nefarious when the investigation isn’t even complete? You accuse airlines of “hiding” from responsibility. And accuse Delta of “hiding something.” The investigation is incomplete, and it would be irresponsible of Delta, Endeavor, and the pilots flying that plane to step in front of the investigations and make claims of their own. Do you not know how accident investigations work?
Ah… Troy Merrett, I actually laughed out loud at your comment. Had we been in a simulator, and pilots crashed on approach such as these pilots did in Toronto, I would have asked them, “What do you think went wrong?” “Can you tell me why you didn’t go around with the GPWS blaring?” I would not conduct an investigation to determine if they fucked up the approach. That’s evident. The upside down simulator would be proof enough. Only they can tell me why they did what they did.
There is never a better analysis than from the pilot as to why they did what they did and what went wrong. This could be an immediate learning moment. Thus to think that some external body could “investigate” and figure out what happened, more so than the pilots who lived to tell us, is laughable. But I thank you, as I like to laugh. And I’m certain that Delta appreciates you being zealous advocate on their behalf. Thanks for your comment and the absurdity of it all.