Foreign aircraft accidents

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05-04-2006, 07:57 PM

calcapt

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Joined APC: Jan 2006

Position: 737 Captain

Posts: 777

Foreign aircraft accidents

With the recent loss of a Airbus a320 in Armenia, does anybody have any thoughts at why there seems to be so many more aircraft accidents in other parts of the world. According to media reports, the recent loss of the A320 involved weather or possible pilot error. I wouldn't think those elements themselves would bring a plane down unless errors were made somwhere. And the A320 seems like a platform that would have no problem operating in bad weather. Does anyone on the forum have first hand experience working with foreign crews and companies that would explain why they would be more prone to losing aircraft than here in the states? Is it training? Crew experience? Poor equipment? It seems almost common place to read about accidents that on the surface seem avoidable by US standards. What's up?

05-04-2006, 08:42 PM

NE_Pilot

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I'm no expert, and not very expeirenced, but from what I have heard, in Europe especially you can get hired with much lower times than in America, the JAA certificate is harder to get than the FAA certificate (from what I hear), but that does not make up for expierence that comes with hours of flying.

There is also the maintance factor, that really seems to apply the most for only the poorer nations.

Now I can be completely wrong with this, this is just my understanding with the knowledge I have.

05-04-2006, 09:04 PM

tomgoodman

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Position: 767A (Ret)

Posts: 6,248

Maybe they don't have a union

I've heard that, at some foreign carriers, family background and "connections" are what get you to the left seat---not seniority. In addition, some cultures make it very difficult to question the captain's decision, even if a disaster is looming. Don't know if this is true or not.

05-04-2006, 10:36 PM

HSLD

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Joined APC: Feb 2005

Position: B777

Posts: 5,853

Quote:

Originally Posted by NE_Pilot

in Europe especially you can get hired with much lower times than in America, the JAA certificate is harder to get than the FAA certificate (from what I hear), but that does not make up for expierence that comes with hours of flying.

If that were true we should see a much higher accident rate with [some] US regional carriers...but we don't. There must be something else as a contributing factor other than pilot experience.