Originally Posted by ShyGuy

Is this really about safety? NTSB Chair Deborah Hershman told all the key values of the CVR and FDR literally the day after they were analyzed. She continues to release the little details as they become known. Now to think, is this really safety related? Feed the media to keep them satisfied?

The answer is no, as is usual with ALL politicians, the answer is more politically driven.

She's trying to get her foot up the ladder. No others NTSB Chair has ever released that much information, in that short a timeframe, on that daily a basis. I'm actually surprised to hear (often by pilots) that this is happening for safety reasons. How? This has never happened before. In the last major airline crash in the USA (AA 587), the day after the CVR and FDR was analyzed, the NTSB Chair did not go on national TV and say "the rudder was deflected close to full left, then opposite full right, then full left, full right, and then full left." "Then a sound of the tail snapping off was heard..."

That didn't happen because it would have been un-wise for it to happen.

For NTSB Chairman Hersman, her term is coming to an end at the NTSB this year. She's privately lobbying as much as possible to get the Secretary of DOT job, and doing so behind Washington DC's backs. This crash is just what she needed to get her name, face, and image out to everyone. It's all political, this has nothing to do with safety. Releasing these soundbites in a cool, concise calm manner every day since the CVR/FDR was analyzed is her way of getting her image, her name, and her chance for the new job. Putting herself on the radar if you will, for the Sec DOT job.

I'm willing to bet at the end of this, she WILL be the next Sect of DOT.

Originally Posted by cardiomd

Excuse me, Captain? Women have enough difficulty in aviation without calling them "stick shakers"... I am VERY offended. I am not even going to talk about your comments about "aural" or getting a "tactile response". The misogyny on these boards is frightening. Truly appalling.



"If you take it too slow, your column will start to vibrate."

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

The other thing about the Chairmans experience, I get that we believe the NTSB should have pilots investigating pilots.

However, the Chairman is a political appointee for the same reason all of the other branches and agencies of the government are political appointees and that is because they are supposed to be answerable to the public via the election of those who appoint and confirm them. Or that's the general idea. You wouldn't want a person that nobody could touch.

But in its own words the NTSB is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the U.S. and significant accidents in other modes of transportation-railroad, highway, marine and pipeline.

To find a Chairman who is certified to the highest levels of aviation (airplanes, helicopters, airships, gliders, balloons, etc) plus trains, trucks, ships, pipelines, etc,. would be impossible to find.

So that's a nonstarter. The career people are there for that.

Originally Posted by sandlapper223

Leave it to Clamp to photo bomb so we have to zoom in to read this page of text. But I don't mind. I wouldn't toss her outta bed for eatin crackers.

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR

[snip]
she would be briefing - or another board member would be briefing - on any variety of accidents across all mode of transportation.

Originally Posted by cardiomd

I'm sure that Shyguy would appreciate a nice "de-briefing" by her. Would make sure that PAPI is operative, but somehow I am guessing Shyguy has tested this out thoroughly in simulation. I would bet when shooting a real approach he will find most VASI out of service.

Guess she only appears to newly minted teenage pilots.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

The other thing about the Chairmans experience, I get that we believe the NTSB should have pilots investigating pilots.

Originally Posted by Std Deviation

The job of the board is to accept or reject the final report. Being a subject matter expert can bias the impartial view (think of being a judge not a jury). As Robert Sumwalt, one of the other board members, told me (paraphrased) - "My job is to read the final analysis as a member of the general public. Can a reasonable person arrive at the conclusion given the eveidence."

Board members are not investigators - they receive their info from the IIC.

Originally Posted by FlyerJosh

Over the years the 24 hour news cycle has changed the way that accidents are addresses in the media.

The NTSB must also change the way they distribute information as a result, and not just to keep speculation to a minimum. There are funding factors, political ramifications, international relations issues, and the potential for leaks from inside the investigation.

ALPA might not like it, but they're better suited in the long run learning that its better to control the flow of information through strategic announcements rather than saying nothing and letting the media and average joe speculate uninformed. Speculation and false conclusions are bound to happen regardless of how much info is or is not released.

By getting out in front, Hersman comes across as a strong leader and the NTSB seems like they have full control of the situation and are producing result. Both are important from a public standpoint and an agency funding standpoint, regardless of the chairwoman's personal motivations.