Pilots Joseph Lepore and Jan Paladino in Brazil air crash have sentences commuted - NYPOST.com

Criminal proceedings for aircraft ACCIDENTS are a chilling development in recent years. We all know this, but anyone following the history of this accident knows it was inevitable in Brasil. The country had "outside" factors in which to lay blame so they used every opportunity to do so.

No one should be happy about the result, but the outcome could have been much worse. The judge did commute the sentence but he also could have ruled them innocent with no punishment. Community service and loss of license for the duration to be served in the US.

Thoughts anyone? Concerned for their futures, what this will do to them and how they will support their families through all of this. At least they are not in some Brazilian jail serving almost 5 years.

I have followed this because I used to work with one of the pilots years ago.

Thanks for posting.

Unfortunately the Brazillians' scapegoat prosecution does nothing to fix the problem.

Down there you are pretty much on your own to see and avoid.

I still haven't figured out how a mid-air between an RJ and a 737 can result in the 737 immediately crashing and the RJ not only making a successful emergency landing....but then actually being repairable & returned to service?

Those Brazilians must build one tough airframe!

It's not good down there but I do think it is getting better.

Because the winglet on the EMB was large, and it sliced through the wing of the 737. The 737 immediately rolled, and then nosed down into the ground. The EMB only lost the majority of the winglet, and very slight skin damage around the winglet area. The wing remained in tact, and the aircraft was flown (with difficulty) to a successful landing.

Here is the ACTUAL picture of the EMB after landing.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...dinGol1907.jpg

Note the damaged winglet. It is just torn off, and sliced the left wing of the 737 completely off. Compare the right winglet (normal) to the left winglet (sliced through 737's left wing).

Another one:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...egacy2_fab.jpg

Also note slight damage on horizontal stabilizer, left side.

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, then to speak up and remove all doubt".

First off you are incorrect. Why don't you do a little research and find out what Jan was flying at his "regional" before he went to his major.
Secondly what the hell are you talking about. So what difference does it make it they were over a piece of terrain that they've never flown over before. What procedures were they "lacking in" in your expert analysis.

A completely screwed up ATC system and a known AD for the RMU/transponder and you're putting the blame on these guys. Glad I don't share a cockpit with you!

If the Brazilians are going to conduct criminal proceedings on pilots with no other purpose than to try and "cover up" their own screwed up ATC system and sub par controllers maybe we in the USA shouldn't buy Brazilian airplanes anymore.

I've done a fair piece of flying there and as everybody who has knows you are pretty much on your own. ATC has more of an advisory if they feel like it function than the actually controlling traffic.

If anybody needed to go to jail in that accident it was the Brazilian controllers.

Controller innocent because he was unqualified.