Keep this in mind the next time the guy you're flying with catches where you mis-positioned the flaps or trim for take-off or read back the wrong altitude or programmed a crossing restriction incorrectly. I hope you're every bit as hard on yourself and then decide that you have no business in aviation.

Perhaps you're much like the fellow I flew with years ago that told me that he had never made a mistake with regard to aviation. An hour later he tried to penetrate a squall line with tops up to 60K feet where the radar showed the most narrow line of red (or radar attenuation). He was a 25 year old new Captain at a fractional Ownership company and a graduate from a prestegious aviation university.

It's all about "error management" and just the fact that we all realize we are human and prone to errors is a solid start in the right direction.

I'm sure you're a joy to fly with.

Tomcat

 

Of course not. When was the last time a doctor treated 49 patients at the same time? I don't think this is a valid comparison.

 

Best of luck to him in accomplishing what he desires, it will however, be a long and painful road to get back there.

I'd wonder (for myself) if i'd have the same desire. To fly again, yes, i could understand that, but to know what my last flight was like in an airliner, and to think of strapping in again, to do the same "routine" thing over and over again, would definitely be a headjob.

Personally i know it could have been any one of us who could have made the same blanketed mistake, any one of us could be ostracized for violating sterile cockpit, sometimes with talk that you might consider "necessary" however, the Feds may not have, i dunno.

Fly safe.

 

Glad to hear it. That was not my experience but I was at the regionals 15 year ago.

 

I think my point is understanding the great responsibiity we have with our passengers. If a doctor messes up he only risks the life of one, pilots risk the life of many.

 

I have a friend from the Navy that was flying at night in an F-4 over the Sea of Japan. He had his O2 Mask hanging from one side of the helmet, as almost all of us did during cruise, which is a violation of SOP or NATOPS. The cockpit had a slow depressurization and he passed out. The F-4 gradually pitched over and increased from 250 kias to 450 kias, all the while the back-seater (RIO) continued to challenge the pilot. Finally the RIO had no choice but to eject them both. My friend suffered compound fractures in all his extremities (bone thru skin) and managed to survive. The odd thing was that the Search and Rescue Helo found him in his raft, radio in hand, strobe light on top of his helmet and turned on and flares pulled out of his vest. He remembers none of it to this day. The RIO got out with minor injuries, which is nearly a miracle at that speed.

After two years at Bethesda Naval Hospital and much Rehab he showed up to Miramar to go through F-14 training. He was the class leader for my initial training in the Tomcat. He went on to serve another full tour in the Navy. Now my friend is a Captain at American Airlines. I always had a lot of respect for him getting back in the saddle and flying off the carrier again. Point is, it can be done!

 

You make many assumptions about me, unwarrated at that. My post was in regards to the responsibility we have as pilots in ensuring the safety of our passengers. Never did I claim to be "super pilot" and error proof. Nor do I have any ill will towards the pilot, I wish him nothing but the best and, if possible, many hours flying for the rest of his life. I do however feel that a continued 121 career is not the best.

I appreciate you story about the "guy you once flew with," but it has nothing to do with me. We are all accountable for our actions in the air and on the ground, "prestigious aviation university" or not. As a matter of fact, I would think someone with your aviation experience would be a little more mature with your argument. "I'm sure you are a joy to fly with." Sir, you know nothing about me nor what it is like to fly with me. I will take that remark at your attempt and failure to have a pithy one liner at the end of your post.

 

Google medical mistakes per year and the result may amaze you. They did me. The numbers range from 5000 to 195000 deaths per year!

I'd say pilots are doing a pretty good job. And, maybe out congress should investigate those numbers and stay out of baseball.

 

Colgan is hiring.

 

I would love to see how much money is being spent on the baseball hearings. All the issues we have and look and what we are doing, seems like a huge waste of resources to me.