It is being reported on AVWeb (and other places) that the Northwest Airlines’ pilots who “missed” Minneapolis have filed an appeal to get their airmans’ certificates back. 

While I have no doubt that Air Traffic Control was probably *not* 100% by the book that day or any other day, nor are most pilots.  To make this claim in an appeal makes me wonder if these two men aren’t in a little bit of denial about their egregious lack of situational awareness.  This wasn’t 5 minutes and 25 miles of flight of radio silence.   For  91 minutes these two pilots were situationally unaware and out of contact with both Denter and Minneapolis Air Traffic Control Centers.  Despite repeated attempts to contact them, they remained out of contact until they were about 150 miles *past* Minneapolis. 

There are mistakes and then there are MISTAKES.  This wasn’t an error made under stress in a situation requiring immediate action.  It wasn’t an honest mistake.  It was dangerous because if these two pilots were that unaware during their communications, how can we assume they were aware of anything going on in the cockpit such as a TCAS alert.  

If these two airmen every do get their pilot’s certificates back, I hope they are permanently restricted to serving as First Officers for the rest of their careers.  Becoming a captain should be reserved for those who understand that that situation is unacceptable under any circumstances within their control.

Filed under: Airline News by ajax
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