"John Szalay" wrote in message
42...
"Dave Kearton" wrote in
:

from www.swamp.com.au


To all the old ducks out there.




Just a random thought:
Quite a coincidence that that shows up, just days after a
pilot whom in recent years would be so close to mandatory
retirement at age 60, used his knowledge and skill to bring
a powerless aircraft down without loss of life..
(that rule was change not too long ago, raising the age to 65)

brings back to mind also the crash in Iowa years ago as well.
the DC-10 (Flt 232)that lost the hydraulic controls due to an
engine failure and the close to retirement pilots brought the aircraft
down with more that half the souls on board surviving the crash..

http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/1990/A90_177.pdf

While the very senior pilots' skill was very important to the outcome of the
two instances, I suspect that when they sift through all the evidence the key
will be shown to be how they dealt with their colleagues on the flight deck
when under stress and making key decisions. That, of course is an aspect of
their experience, but I suspect it was their ability to work with others, more
than skill, that led to them becoming successful senior pilots.

The reports of a passenger telling a woman with a baby, "Women and children
first!" and of the captain of US Air 1549 walking the length of the aircraft
twice to ensure no one was left aboard impressed me -- "Birkenhead Drill" on
the Hudson, but with a more favourable outcome.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO
(If you're going to e-mail me, you'll have to get "yourfinger." out.)