Competence counts
On 07-11-2009, in Viewpoint, by phil
Listening to the interview with Capt. Sully Sullenburger who successfully ditched his Airbus A320 in the Hudson River after multiple bird-strikes knocked out its engines, I was impressed by his calm, considered and authoritative manner. He is a first class ambassador for airmen throughout the industry. I think I might buy his book.
While recognising that he and his crew did an excellent job ditching in the Hudson, I would still like to think that most
competent crews would have performed equally well. The problem is that we normally never hear of the first class jobs done day in day out by many crews that avoid an accident. They achieve this either through good judgement which avoids anything happening at all. Or by well applied skill so that only those within the profession ever hear about the event. It is only the incidents which become obvious to the media or which turn into accidents that are noticed by the general public.
But what I find really disturbing is what seems to be the general erosion of the standing of the professional airman as described by Sully. We will be in danger of not getting enough good recruits, and if the accountants press too far, not training them well enough. What that will do for aviation safety must be of great concern to us all.
