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To some extent these chain of command cultural issues (or whatever you want to call them) are unavoidable and show up in most airlines. The worst aviation disas
by bedhead 13y ago
To some extent these chain of command cultural issues (or whatever you want to call them) are unavoidable and show up in most airlines. The worst aviation disaster in history could largely be chalked up to this problem. Two 747's collided in Tenerife because the co-pilot of one was too timid to tell his pilot, who was practically famous within the company, that he was wrong and should wait to take off.
- neurotech1 13y agoNot disagreeing that KLM Capt. van Zanten was wrong. The point is that they are not supposed to adversely effect safety and cockpit environment. It takes real leadership to encourage co-pilots/subborinates to raise operational issues in an appropriate way. Some reports indicate KLM Capt. van Zanten wasn't as overbearing as the official report said, but he still would have been somewhat intimidating due to his status, and the fact is that he had opportunity to take 15 seconds to confirm with the tower, and/or Pan Am 747, after the co-pilot pulled the throttles back. He didn't confirm, and a crash occurred. One very senior test pilot I know, commented that if a crew chief DID NOT ground abort them (usually before taxiing) because of a safety issue, or at least discuss the problem, and let them fly anyway, then the crew chief would be history. It would be considered dereliction of duty, and heading towards Article 15 Non-Judicial Punishment. Needless to say, it is not that uncommon for this senior pilot to ground abort, and the crew chiefs do their job.