Some, perhaps, might argue that automation is a huge factor that plays a big role in accidents or others claim that it's achieving better flight results, but both are correct. If we concentrate on the two links , the news, statistics, and videos, we see definitely a huge point conveyed across that pilots are becoming reliant. Thus, they are becomin 'ignorant' about flying because of the dependency on computers to do what they all dreamed and were interviewed to do ever since they flew! As we heard in the video, the co-pilot of the airline was screaming "Climb, climb, climb.." pulling the yoke or the nose of the plane up; instead, in stalling situation he should put the nose down to recover. Thus, the first reaction of pilot and co-pilot was strange because they couldn't recognize what type of sound was coming off in the cockpit. That is a an indication that pilots are truly reliant on computerized flight with a very slow response to a automation malfunctioning that cost lives of many passengers including theirs as well.
The other argument is that automation has added so many features to the flight that cannot be removed or replaced because they are extremely needed. For instance, precision to fly planes closer from 2000 to 1000 feet, relying on GPS more to get directions and weather conditions, and gaining more comfort zone in high altitude cruising points while flying close to other airplanes. However, the twist with computers and machines is that they have a time where they fail to do their task or work. The automation failure is unpredictable thing that might happen any second or minute during a flight. It could happen right after taking off, during a high altitude cruise, or when approaching to land. However, the million dollar question is: shouldn't pilots be trained good enough to handle or take control of the airplane when any sudden failure happens?
Yes, they should be able to handle or make the recovery as quick as the alarm sound comes off. I call that a transitional point. All pilots should be able to make that transitional point easily because that's where we experience the fatal accidents to occur. These accidents occurred because both the man and the machine failed to do their task. This is where my agreement with Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger comes when he said, "If we only look at the pilots - the human factor - then we are ignoring other important factors," he said. "We have to look at how they work together." Indeed, his precision was incredible that he was able to recover from his engine failure after hitting the Canadian geese flock and landed in the Hudson River shortly after he took off. He saved all the 155 members. Also, there should be hands on the yoke every-other-trip just to keep the pilot's mind refreshed and alerted all the time.
To sum up, pilots are in command whether they rely or don't rely on the automation. They get to say the final word at all time....
http://www.flightdeckautomation.com/accidentstudy/accident-analysis.aspx
http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA460892
FirstEnsign
Nice write up. For future posts, it may be helpful to give more of an introduction to your links.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your post FirstEnsign, with automation comes responsibility on how to use it. Like you noted pilots should be trained and proficient on how to handle situation when they fail. Pilots training should always be there, and ready to take over for anytime a system failure was to happen.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought about automation-related accidents! Very good piece of analysis.
ReplyDeleteBut how about the convenience and peace of mine that pilots have gained from controlling the airplanes with auto-avionic systems? Don't you think that pilots' job has become easier since the implementation of the new generation avionic instruments??
I agree. It seems that automation has made the industry more efficient as far as separation and control of aircraft, but it is obvious that pilots are becoming dependent on new technology, and that is a real problem. This problem most definitely lies in the training processes of these new systems. Pilots are considered to be experts at flying aircraft, they should also be experts at operating all of their systems as well.
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