It's easy for all of you guys to say that because it's not you. Aviation is a small community and you should back up everyone else because it could be you one day. The article only said he wanted to fly again, it never said he wanted to try to return to 121 flying. Give the guy a little credit and stop bashing him. No matter what anybody says it could happen to anyone. I don't know any pilot was hasn't lined up on the wrong runway on either takeoff or landing. If you haven't well then you're gods gift to aviation.

 

I don't believe anyone on here is trying to say "I'm better than this guy, why doesn't he just give it up?", or "Look at me, I'm God's gift to aviation." All we really mean is, would you say to a guy that has a DUI/criminal conviction/license suspension on his/her record, "Come aboard, we'd love to have you"? Well, maybe so, and I'm sure it has happened, but in the back of the mind you will wonder if this person will goof up again...and at what cost. No one is saying "it can't happen to me", but until it does, we are not under the spotlight! This forum is just for tossing around ideas, so don't jump so easily to conclusions over written words when you don't have the whole picture....
Except for the guy that said, "At least there are certain mistakes he wont be making again..."
End O' Rant!

 

???????????????????

 

Some pretty strong statements.

Just so I'm clear, no matter what a pilot does, no matter how large or small the infraction, no matter how many people get killed, no matter how gross the neglegence: We need to "back them up" because it could be us one day?

With regards to your other statement: Hi, I'm Jay5150 and although I never thought I was god's gift to aviation, you now know your first. I would submit that if every pilot you know has lined up on the wrong runway for takeoff or landing, then you need to start hanging around some different pilots.


On the original topic:

Look I wish the guy well and feel terrible for him, and his family. But the bottom line is although there were contributing factors (there always are), these guy's actions were directly resposible for this crash. In the end that's your job. To stop the chain. For every accident like this, there are countless others that are avoided through the crew doing exactly what they are paid for and what the pax expect of them: not letting things like this happen if it is in any way avoidable, which in this case it was. Could it happen to others, sure. But what could happen doesn't really matter, it's what did happen.

I guess what I'm saying is when your mistake, even if it was helped along by other factors (ATC, construction, etc.) gets a planeload of people killed, you usually pay for that mistake with your life. In this rare instance it didn't, so consider yourself lucky. But...you don't get to fly people anymore, period.

My opinion only, of course

 

I have only met one...... and I know quite a few.....

 

I would also assume that him wanting to fly does not necessarily mean that he wants to fly 121. And even if he did want to fly 121, I am not sure that Comair could afford the insurance.

 

One that would admit it, maybe...c'mon, every single pilot has at one time or another has lost situational awareness, if even for a moment...to say any different is just not being honest...

 

I'll admit it, I lined up for the wrong runway once on a 10 mile final.

I was a student pilot in a C152 with about 25 hours of flying time and 5 hours solo. Since then I haven't done it.

I am not god's gift to aviation but I am very vigilant about certain things--bugging runways and double/triple checking is one thing I do. I am sure there are things I could do better in the flight deck so I am always open to ideas and suggestions.

 

Now THAT's a good idea.

 

OK. Why is it not a good idea? I feel that his disfigured body and scars would be a real testiment as to the consequences of not adhering to the sterile cockpit rule and company procedures. He would better serve the company in this capacity as opposed to being a line pilot. But it certainly sounds like you have a better recommendation.