Comments on: Germanwings Crash: Lessons for Low-Cost Carriers

By: RC

RC — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 23:54:00 +0000

There are so many factual errors, erroneous statements and unique interpretations in this article that it’s shameful. Especially considering the author’s apparently good intentions and evident command of the English language. Dude, do your research! There are many more problems, but I’ll just mention these:

The controversial conclusions of SilkAir 185 suggest the captain disarmed the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder (rendering the investigation more difficult) and intentionally crashed. Captain, not copilot. An Egypt Air 767 crash was attributed to copilot murder-suicude. Was there a 747 also? Many airlines around the world have a policy that requires two people in the cockpit, not two people in the cabin. It is speculative at best to suggest the two person IN THE COCKPIT rule is intended to reduce the chances of pilot suicude. It’s idiotic to say that. The roots of the policy/rule have more to do with potential pilot incapacitation and redundancy in case the electronic door release mechanism malfunctions (so the lone pilot does not have to leave his seat to open the door). It’s ludicrous to believe that a flight attendant standing in the cockpit could intervene and thwart motivated suicidal pilot. It’s a leap of faith but possible that the same FA could help if the pilot has a medical problem, at least until the other pilot returns. Colgan Air 3407 was attributed to fatigue, pilot training and inexperience. Low wages were not found to be a cause. Tha FAA did no such thing as limit working shifts to nine hours. To say so represents a complete misunderstanding of FAR 117, the revamped flight time and duty rules that were introduced partially in response to Colgan 3407. Let’s just say that it’s complicated and better than before, but one must dig deeper than this author in order to convey the details.

Thankfully aviation reporting has improved tremendously over the past few years in my opinion. This article is a major set back for that trend!

By: Frank Sterling

Frank Sterling — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 11:18:00 +0000

Low cost airlines may “underpay” (apparently the author does not believe in free market economics) their staff but this incident had nothing to do with that. The article is an inane attempt to tie the two together.

By: lily hidalgo

lily hidalgo — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:36:00 +0000

Easiest way to grapple with the unexpected & fear it generate is find comfort/reassurance in quick
judgment on the “weakest link” i.e., human frailty. The global breaking news to week-long frenzy of sensationalism of conjectures & speculations based on ‘leaked reports’… all about the man’s “state of mind” ( actions on flight…the parents’ home, the apartment, personal records & life) …if this is not
vilification of the person (prior to completion of full investigation) or aggravation of the stigma on mental health in general…what is? And now, this report about “financial “pressures (among low cost carriers) ….rules that exceed the boundaries of good practices… stress on air crews imposed by ever more stringent cost control measures… progressive worsening of pilots’ working conditions, which is having negative financial and safety consequences… long series of pilot strikes and other labor disputes etc etc”. How many fingers pointed at whom/what/how many? Who’s accountable for a just working environment that promotes safety even among lost cost carriers? For all its worth, this may be also be an opportune time to think about our own human vulnerability/frailty in terms of the limits of human endurance and … of compassion. Who”s invincible? Would you have a robot fly your plane?

By: Buzzy123

Buzzy123 — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 17:44:00 +0000

In reply to Alan Schmukler.

Unfortunately, not much you can do about this. If you prohibit anyone that takes an anti depressant at any time from being on a flight crew, not only would you eliminate a percentage of perfectly good pilots, but I can just about guarantee that certain pilots, who due to stress, or chemical imbalance REALLY need a prescription will be scared off from either going to a shrink or taking their meds lest blood tests show them to be in their system…
This is not an easy problem to solve, and as a traveler myself, it is a horrible situation for everyone, flight crew as well as passengers

By: Dave Chapman

Dave Chapman — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 13:18:00 +0000

This sort of thing is a major part of why I decided to not become a pilot.
As far back as the 1970s, you could see the progressive deterioration of
working conditions, pay, and safety standards.

The central problem is that pilots want to fly, and when the airlines are
given incentives to overwork them, or to cut corners on safety in general,
bad things are going to happen.

This is a job for intrusive government regulation.

By: Alan Schmukler

Alan Schmukler — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 12:42:00 +0000

An excellent article with good points. Exploitation of pilots has been going on for some time. That’s part of the economic model where nothing matters except the bottom line. Pilots love to fly, so that plays into their putting up with this situation. One more thing should be added in this particular crash. The pilot was being medicated with antidepressants, many of which have the stated side effects of suicidal and homicidal thoughts. Those same drugs have been implicated in over half of the mass killings in the U.S.