Originally Posted by
flysnoopy76
Great point, not saying it’s the reason this happened, but totally agree it’s absurd we don’t have it. I’ve heard several excuses why we don’t, ranging from simply “we don’t need it” to it would mess with autolands, or “well you can see the RA in the HUD”. It’s probably because it would cost a couple dollars per plane to turn it on.
The radio altimeter thing came to my mind as well as soon as I saw this.
Jumpseat on AS from time to time and it’s always been something that had me confused as to why they wouldn’t be using the call-outs on their Boeings. Frankly I’m amazed the FAA doesn’t require it as stock standard on a jet flying 121 ops. The safety margin such a system provides can be enormous as well as just a huge boost to situational awareness as was previously mentioned.
I find it very hard to believe it would interfere with autoland or anything else, every other operator seems to manage with no problems. Glad the crew and pax all walked away from it.