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> The big problem was that the pilot-in-command simply forgot (or did not know) how to fly the plane. The pilot flying wasn't the pilot-in-command. Half the pr
by gsnedders 9y ago
> The big problem was that the pilot-in-command simply forgot (or did not know) how to fly the plane.
The pilot flying wasn't the pilot-in-command. Half the problem was the PIC was out of the cockpit at the time and the lack of any clear command structure between the two first officers in the cockpit. You can also argue that it may have been recoverable if the PIC took over as PF when he returned to the cockpit (had he acted rationally, etc.), instead of being confused by the situation they were in and unable to get out of, likely without knowing what the PF was doing.
> My understanding is that most long-haul pilots will fly a fairly small number of segments each month, and that most of those segments are going to involve a huge amount of time spent in the middle of nowhere with autopilot on. This leads to atrophying of skills needed to manually fly a plane.
Much flying nowadays is through RVSM (reduced vertical separation minima) airspace, and you're not allowed to hand-fly the aircraft there (in general, modern autopilots can maintain altitude better than a pilot can).
- dredmorbius 9y ago"PIC", pilot in control, refers to the pilot actually flying the plane. Not the command or seniority structure amongst pilots. There were a Captain and two co-pilots aboard AF445. The junior co-pilot was PIC for much of the incident.
- gsnedders 9y agoPIC is in command, not in control. In plenty of short-haul flights, the FO can be PF, but they aren't competent to be PIC. See also <https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/33414/who-is-the-pilot-in-command-when-the-pilot-in-command-is-resting/33462> https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/33414/who-is-th.... As in the AF447 case, the PIC will delegate to an acting PIC while they are on their rest break, but ultimate responsibility still remains with them.
- dredmorbius 9y agoMy error. I was getting confused on the BAE terminology: PF Pilot Flying PNF Pilot Not Flying https://www.bea.aero/docspa/2009/f-cp090601.en/pdf/f-cp090601.en.pdf https://www.bea.aero/docspa/2009/f-cp090601.en/pdf/f-cp09060...