Gentlemen:
Some interesting comments on AF447. I'll throw my own opinions out for the group. I've flown the Airbus 319/320 but not the A330-200, so I speak some French but I'm not fluent.
In my view, the NTSB needs to direct a thorough and complete investigation of the A-3330-200 pitot static system. There have been a half dozen incidents where there were significant degradations or failures of portions or all of this system to warrant an unbiased look at the system engineering.
Secondly, all airlines have cut training in the interest of improving the bottom line. In the interest of safety, pilots need a
lot more training in the classroom, the sim and if possible during IOE in high altitude meteorology, high altitude aircraft performance and the upset scenarios. We also need to get back to teaching situational awareness and basic flying skill sets when operating with less that full systems, i.e., stand-by power scenarios. Unfortunately, the Air France crew was not up to speed in those areas and 228 people paid for the discrepancies with their lives.
Lastly, where was the decision making in not deviating around a known area of intense weather ? I'm not an expert by any means but I did make over 100 crossings of the inter-tropical convergence zone between JFK and deep South America and can never remember a smooth ride. TRW activity was the norm and just about every carrier was sharing information about buildups, ride conditions and what was being painted on radar. I wasn't there but why didn't AF447 deviate when several others did so safely.
It's easy to point fingers and hindsight is always 20/20 but the trends in training issues are very disturbing. Air France and Airbus are probably going to absorb a very high cost in litigation and settlements, as they should.
Y'all be careful out there.
G'Day Mates