Pilots ‘worked to death’: Flydubai whistleblower says fatigue-related crash predicted
- Thread starter canada-man
- Start date
It is known among pilots that Air Dubai, Emirates and Qatar crew are driven hard. They recruit hard and get many junior pilots desperate to build hours.
I can see how the Rostov-on_don pilot crashed after holding for so long and then trying to land in such incredible wind conditions.
I can see how the Rostov-on_don pilot crashed after holding for so long and then trying to land in such incredible wind conditions.
They didn't land or attempt to land. However, there was a major screw up during the go-around procedure. Seems the aircraft stalled when it reached about 2500 feet, then augured in from that height out of control.
The 737 is a complex aircraft to manage on a go-around. For example, the autopilot kicks off if using a single autopilot when the go-around switches are pressed, but not if two autopilots are used in the case of an autoland configuration. Plus, the 737 does not automatically trim itself in manual flight like the FBW Airbus 320/330/340 series, so a certain amount of hand flying skills under instrument conditions are required in those relatively rare circumstances of a go-around. Instrument flying skills are not that well developed for some of these europilots, after getting a few hundred hours during their initial flying in small airplanes, then go directly on heavy metal jets where they punch buttons most of the time as they progress to captaincy and beyond.
They may be able to do these manoeuvres when they are well rested and refreshed during a recurrent training session in the simulator, but things can rapidly get out of control during combined periods of high stress and intense fatigue in the real airplane. You just can't think fast enough when fatigue and stress are put together, and you are prone to making blunders.
Thanks for the info on this crash. I haven't read much more than what came out the first day. But I can see how a mistrimmed airplane could catch a guy and lead to a pitch up and stall if the A/P disconnects. Knowing your airplane and especially your A/P is really vital, especially if your hand flying skills are not practiced and you are not sharp on the needles.
Being tired and stressed is huge.
I understand that Air Canada has an exemption for the long haul third pilot requirement. Is that true? I would hate to think how I'd feel if something went tango uniform on an approach into Athens after being awake for14 hours and changing timezones etc without a nap.
Being tired and stressed is huge.
I understand that Air Canada has an exemption for the long haul third pilot requirement. Is that true? I would hate to think how I'd feel if something went tango uniform on an approach into Athens after being awake for14 hours and changing timezones etc without a nap.
The 3rd pilot, or the relief pilot, operates under the same rules as the other 2. He/she get to sleep the same amount of time. Since they are used exclusively on long-haul routes, and they get to sleep during half of the time in cruise, they are affectionately called 'the snoozer'. Although they do the same stuff in the simulator as the other 2 pilots, they are not authorized to sit in either of the 2 front seats below 10,000 feet.... although if either the captain or the First Officer were incapacitated, nobody ever imagines that the relief pilot would remain in the jump seat.
I understand that but my question is whether AC has some exemption for not having a relief pilot on their Long Haul 767 Rouge flights for example? Ad if so, why?
The regulations are far more permissive than the contractual limits. Good thing since Canada has some of the worst flight and duty limitations in the world. Romania's were better before they joined the EU. Since pilots from Rouge operate under the same seniority as the mainline pilots, they get screwed on pay but not on duty time limits, AFAIK. Maximum duty time with 2 pilots, IIRC, is 12 hours. With a relief pilot, it's 15 hours by day and 14 hours by night. These can be extended in case of an operational delay, with the concurrence of all pilots.
However, they wanted pilots to deadhead right away on the return flight in economy section. So you can imagine a 10 hour duty time at night, and no sleep, and having to come back in economy, adding another 10 hours sitting upright in a seat with your knees against the seat ahead, trying to sleep with kids screaming at all hours. I don't know if that is the case right now.
The hazard in the latter case, is not crashing the plane since you're in the back, but crashing your car on your way home.
