HoodaThunk?

Captain’s training called into question in fatal Buffalo commuter crash (Updated)

The last update I gave on a commuter aircraft crash in Buffalo on February 12th reported on comments from investigators indicating that pilot error might have been at work. Additional details have come to light about the Captain’s training and the First Officer’s readiness.

Capt. Marvin Renslow had never been properly trained by the company to respond to a warning system designed to prevent the plane from going into a stall, according to people familiar with the investigation. As the speed slowed to a dangerous level, setting off the stall-prevention system, he did the opposite of the proper procedure, which led to the crash, these people said.

Additionally, his 24-year-old co-pilot, Rebecca Shaw, had complained before takeoff about being congested and said she probably should have called in sick, according to people who have listened to the cockpit voice recording.

The issue with Shaw’s readiness deals with her ability to quickly process the information the aircraft and the flight conditions were presenting her and to swiftly formulate the correct response. It would depend on just how bad her symptoms were, of course, but I’ve had head colds that played hell with my cognitive responses.

More troubling is the revelation – unconfirmed, I’d like to remind everyone – that the pilot had never received the requisite training in anti-stall techniques on the airframe in question. If that’s borne out, it’ll be a damning data point directed squarely at the airline’s top brass. While a pilot’s training in just about any aircraft would make him better equipped to deal with a stall in any plane than the average Joe who doesn’t know which end of the plane flies forward, it should go without saying that a Captain certified by an airline to fly a given bird should have had such training in that bird’s particular stall characteristics.

Again, more to come as I hear more.

Update: The reports are coming in more briskly with 1 saying the cockpit crew was “slow” in learning this particular aircraft type and another now openly questioning whether they should have been flying at all, in any conditions.

May 11th, 2009 Posted by ricjames | Aviation, Human Interest | no comments

Why the protests now?

I understand some lefty critics are going on about why there weren’t Tea Party protests during the Bush administration. As pointed out over at Instapundit, this might be a good starting point: White House: Budget deficit to top $1.8 trillion, 4 times 2008’s record.

And how about something visual to keep that going?

Bear in mind this chart was made before the Obama White House made their “our estimates might have been a bit too rosy” admission. This also doesn’t factor in the disaster of Obamacare should that get shoved down our throats which will both increase the immediate costs and drive the economy further downward.

May 11th, 2009 Posted by ricjames | Economy, Politics | 2 comments