The Travesty of FlyDubai and Unsafe Working Conditions - Updated

An ex-Emirates pilot has told RT that the company forces its pilots to take heavy workloads by “bullying” them into accepting tough rosters, amid mounting reports from other pilots of Dubai-based airlines in the wake of the FlydubaiGate scandal.  (RT:  ‘Rosters are brutal’: Ex-Emirates pilot tells RT how airline forces employees to work extra hours)

There is only one Cap'n, master of the aircraft, and my rules for flying have been if the pilot deems it safe enough for flying then I'm willing to fly with him/her.  However, my rule is shot all to hell when I cannot trust the pilot to make the right decision.

The opening statement comes from an ex-employee of the accused company and we know this because he writes for us now and the actual pilot drove the aircraft into the runway, killing everyone onboard.


Update:  some may enjoy some titillation in watching cross-wind landings on YouTube because they're terrifying to see in action.  We can't imagine how the pilot can possibly accomplish such a landing but amazingly they do it ... or they wave off and go around for another try.  The first error in judgment was insisting on landing at Rosnov at all rather than at an alternate and the second was in failing to wave off to retry.

(Judge Roy Bean:  hang 'im!)

Thanks, Judge.  Say there, did any trial in yer courtroom end without a hanging?

(Judge Roy Bean:  not a one.  My record is perfect.)

You must be so proud.

The buck never seems to stop anywhere anymore but there's no absolving the pilot of multiple fatal errors in judgment, not the least of which was failing to divert to an alternative airport.  He had plenty of fuel, it was known the weather was better, but he chose not to do it.  There is no buck for that.

We accept commanders but only so long as we have the belief they will make reasonable and logical decisions.  When that duty is not met to perform in such a way, it's a failure in command and should be judged accordingly.

(Ed:  kind of harsh!)

Consider how harsh I would be if I were one of the relatives of those who were killed.