FLMD11CAPT,

I was going to roll in hot on your comment....thought it was one of the most myopic posts on this thread... but then I reread it and decided to continue.

Guess I fail to see the problem with what FDX727 said about the Boeing accident in Florida, and more specifically, how it had anything at all to do with the problems we've been experiencing with the larger aircraft fleets. The feeling I get from your post is that you seem to think that each of our wide-body accidents, in some way, shape, or form, have to do, primarily with either a fatigue issue, or a scheduling practice. That would mean that any amount of pilot error would be subservient, to the two aforementioned "issues." I don't agree, and my reasoning for my disagreement is this: 1) it is your responsibility to show up for your trip, rested, current on your medical, current on your passport, current on your takeoffs and landings, current on the appropriate FCIF's, and just basically capable of performing at your best. 2) if you cannot meet the conditions in #1 above, then you should remove yourself from the flight. If it's a two-week long pairing, so be it. My point is that once you sign on the dotted line (or put a check next to your name) as PIC, on the F/PR, you are responsible for the safe conduct of your flight. If there's an accident or incident during your flight, you're the one who will be standing tall, as you're the one held accountable. Would you like it another way?

I also disagree with your attitude that it's "incredibly dis-respectful and insensitive" for someone to bring up the fact that the Boeing accident was a controlled flight into Terrain, not a landing accident. Why? Is his statement not correct? Personally, what I find disrespectful and insensitive, is for guys to do such a poor job flying these jets, that we loose one every couple of years. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, if you consider all the heartache and grief that pilots' families, friends, and co-workers are exposed to, because someone probably screwed up.

No, accidents are primarily a result of poor airmanship. Sure, there are contributing factors.... lack of sleep, crosswinds, equipment issues, personal issues, crew issues, nighttime landings in bad weather, on foreign shores, etc, etc. But the fact remains... we are crashing aircraft, in the landing phase of flight, and something needs to be done about it.

As an aside, I like LivingInMemphis' idea: "we could have voluntary proficiency sims that ACTUALLY ARE non-threatening to your training record or ticket? We could have proficiency events where the event is tailored to the self-perceived weaknesses of the crewmember and participation is actually encouraged (ability to schedule event on an R-day, with the ability to trade an R-day for the sim event - manning allowed). Why not work on getting something like that to happen. After all you are an MD-11 Captain... should be easy.

JJ