Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443325)

Hate on hater, hate on, but I agree with this

Release #13.39
July 11, 2013

ALPA Reaffirms Commitment to Finding All Factors in Crash of Asiana Flight 214

WASHINGTON—As contributing factors continue to be discovered in the Asiana Flight 214 accident investigation, ALPA again warns about the dangers of speculation based on incomplete data. Today, the NTSB revealed that the pilot flying the aircraft was blinded by a flash of light only seconds before the crash. It also has been reported that the autothrottles may have malfunctioned.

ALPA fully supports open, objective, and thorough investigations with the goal of finding all factors involved in the accident, not simply the most convenient to identify quickly. Anything less must not be tolerated.

“ALPA, like other organizations with airline safety as a bedrock value, views any accident involving an airline aircraft with a single objective – finding every link in the complex chain of events leading to the accident so that mitigations can be put in place to keep such an accident from happening again,” said ALPA president, Capt. Lee Moak. “Clearly, with decades of experience and tens of thousands of flight hours on the flight deck in multiple airline aircraft, a well-rested, fully qualified professional airline flight crew does not set out to fly into a seawall. The key question remains, why did events unfold as they did?”

The hazard of laser illumination of airline cockpits has been recognized as potentially disastrous, and commercially available lasers continue to grow in both power and popularity among those oblivious to the potential danger. If aircraft arriving in San Francisco are being targeted, or if some other light source is creating a distraction to the pilots of arriving aircraft at low altitude, identifying that hazard is critical.

Similarly, determining the second-by-second status of the autothrottles, a key element in speed control, must also be a priority. Proper, appropriate operation of all aircraft automation needs to be verified, and any deviations from standard procedures and operations thoroughly and promptly investigated. If a mechanical deficiency, a training deficiency, or other problem exists, that must be detected promptly and examined thoroughly in order to develop a remedy.

Another issue receiving little attention is the effect of the ongoing construction on and around Runway 28L. The NTSB has commented on the lack of an instrument landing system (ILS) on that runway as a result of the construction. Availability of multiple accurate vertical guidance cues, particularly when landing at an airport with which a pilot may not be familiar, is critical to pilots. The absence of this capability must be further evaluated, as should the availability of other external cues.

“As we recognize the testament to safety represented by the survival of nearly every occupant of the aircraft, and as we remain mindful of the victims and their loved ones, we also recognize the aviation safety community’s responsibility to investigate every possible aspect of the operation leading up to the accident with the singular goal of preventing a recurrence,” said Moak.

Originally Posted by NERD (Post 1443179)

Called in sick yesterday. First sick call for the new cycle and 2nd in last 9+ months(called in march or april but prior to that it was late summer early fall of 2012). Have had 3 calls from a 404 # with no msg left. First call was less than 1 hr after calling in. 2nd call an hour later and another about 15 mins ago, again no msg. Has anyone else had this happen and why won't they leave a recorded msg? Already talked to a rep yesterday after first call.

Originally Posted by Purple Drank (Post 1443339)

Any updates?
What did your rep say?

It's clear the company is conducting an intimidation campaign.

The number of pilots flying sick will skyrocket due to the "protections" ALPA sold us in this contract.

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp (Post 1443340)

Is that similar to you being intimidated into always having the AP/FD/AT on?

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

Dude, take off the anti-ALPA blinders. You have speculated as much as anyone else on here and are part of the problem with this HuffPo mentality to take information and post speculative reasons for the crash without all the information. The data does not belong to the people, the truth does. The truth will come after the investigation and with the final report.

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

You are willing to give up the right to due process for pilots in order to expedite partial data points that have not been verified, nor checked by the other parties (Boeing/P&W) invited to the crash because you say the citizens have a right to the data as soon as it comes out? I assume you have a poll to back up "The vast majority of citizens agree with her decision to release everything as it's compiled." :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

You're way off the mark on this one because you hate ALPA.

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

You don't see that this is setting the stage for the rest of the world to do the same thing? The court of public opinion and the main stream turned tabloid press are costing people jobs. The same NTSB is the one that publicly vilified NWA 188 before the investigation was complete. Babbit was illegally tested by the police, but it didn't stop the press and pilots on here from bashing him.

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

Information should be released but only in context.

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

Come on, man!

Now there's talk of frickin laser beams... "We really don't know what it could have been," Hersman said. "We need to look into it. We need to understand what he's talking about."

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443202)

We don't know because the investigation is still unfolding. You don't release murder investigation results daily into the press, you release a complete picture when you've finished the investigation. I guess we'll be seeing you on CNN as the TOD aviation expert upon retiring?

Originally Posted by Purple Drank (Post 1443343)

I take it you (in no particular order):
- Feel Delta has provided us the tools/culture/guidance that enables us to proficiently hand fly with the ATs and FDs off
- Feel the "good faith" sick call provision as currently written (and enforced) is adequate

Originally Posted by finis72 (Post 1443351)

Yes and yes but then I don't wear a tin foil hat and imagine black heliocopters buzzing my house. You are still my most unimportant person, keep up the good work.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid (Post 1443220)

Sure that directs attention towards the flight deck but so what? On the flip side of the coin should the NTSB have a gag rule imposed such that the engines had not responded properly the NTSB would vow to say nothing pending the completion of a 12+ investigation? What if another 777 crashed in a week in a similar manner?

Originally Posted by bigbusdriver (Post 1443239)

Interesting fact that ICAO has mandated FOQA but the FAA has not.

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1443348)

Look dude, your emotions are making you look silly. The data belongs to the American people. As soon as this data is compiled, a simple FOIA (Freedom Of Information Act) request would have mandated by law that NTSB release it. The only thing legally protected from release is the actual crew members' voices on the CVR. Your argument isn't with me or with the NTSB, it's with the law.



Another emotional tantrum. Due process is only for a criminal proceeding. There is no due process in the crash investigation process. How can you say I'm willing to give up due process when there is none in crash investigations?


I
I've never once said I hate ALPA. Not once. It's this type of hyperventilating that makes you look incapable of debate. Call someone a hater, and maybe you can get people to ignore everything the person said. It's an old and weak tactic. I could have said you hate freedom of speech and the publics right to know what their tax dollars are paying for...but then I'd sound as silly as you.



It doesn't matter what I see. The law allows it and the chairwoman sees her first duty as informing the American people. Write your congressman and pass new laws if you don't like it...that's also your right.



Unfortunately, that's been used as "code words" for delaying the release of known information until the public no longer remembers the accident. Again, the chairwoman disagrees with you and ALPA.



How do you know there wasn't? If the crew reported it, she's releasing it...immediately upon gathering the data. That's her pattern. You and the other over emotionals at ALPA need to get with the program and understand that things change. ALPA's just shocked that she doesn't give a crap what ALPA thinks.



Again, you don't know what your talking about. Incomplete details of murder investigations are released to the public all the time in the hope of engaging the public to help catch the bad guy.

Seriously man, your points are some of the silliest I've read in a while. You don't understand the NTSB's mandate, you don't understand the law, and you don't understand even basic politics.

Carl