ET302 crash animation found on the internet

Since the latest Boeing 737MAX crash I have remained silent on the rumour that the First Officer had 200 hours, in the hope that it was a typo. A highly-qualified American pilot told me that the First Officer actually had 5,000 hours of which 200 was on the 737MAX —which is more likely.

Today the Wall Street Journal announces that he had a total of 350 hours flight experience.

We wait for the official crash report for the exact figures.

Whilst 350 hours may be acceptable in a world where nothing goes wrong, it is of little help when an emergency occurs. Where years of ‘muscle-memory’ and shared thought processes combine to produce an effective team between the two pilots.

On the front page of the flight manual it says: “This is a two-crew Regular Public Transport (RPT) airliner.”

It doesn’t say “Single-pilot turbo prop with a seat for a ‘paid-passenger’ to sit next to the pilot.”

Whilst manufacturers continue to send sales teams around the globe, selling airliners to anyone with the money to lease them; it is time for Regulators to demand, during Certification, minimum experience levels for each control seat.

“This is a two-crew Regular Public Transport (RPT) airliner. Minimum experience levels: Captain 5,000 hours; First Officer 2,000 hours*.”

[*or whatever the manufacturer specifies.]

That will switch the focus onto the growing shortage of experienced pilots, and hopefully come up with creative ways to solve the age-old industry problem which occurs after a new pilot has spent $140,000 (after tax) to obtain a Commercial License with frozen ATPL theory subjects:

“In a world where computers, satellites and drones have killed the general aviation industry, how can the airline industry provide new pilots with valuable experience to get from 200 hours to 2,000?”

Send your ideas to the C.E.O of your country’s aviation regulator.


Don’t ask me, I have no idea.



[The Australian reprinted the Wall Street Journal article: 'Boeing Crashes Shine Light On Pilot Training Process.' Read it HERE ]



20th March 2019

_______________________________

Tags: 737MAX, First Officers, Paid Passengers, ET302, Ethiopoan