What Really Happened Aboard Air France 447

[Al.Fisherman]

Being both a pilot and Air Traffic Controller (retired), the events are so sad, as they could of been averted.

[Skyliner70cc]

I'm not a fan of fly-by-wire technology but it is how planes are now built. I personally think side sticks and asynchronous flight controls are a bad idea since the pilot not on the controls cannot see or feel what flight control inputs the other pilot is making.

I've never been a fan of flying Airbus as a passenger. Anybody else notice how Airbus aircraft seem to make more airframe noise then a boeing plane as in being built a little more flimsy?

[Fabian]

Is it possible then that Boeing simply makes better aircraft than Airbus?

[Skyliner70cc]

I'd take a Boeing anyday......I'm a big fan Boeing and flew a Boeing Vertol 234 for many years.

[Fabian]

Can it then be extrapolated from your answer that Airbus makes second rate equipment compared to Boeing and more lives would have been saved if everyone flew on Boeing platforms?

[loquin]

IMO, if you're going to use fly-by-wire controls, there should be some form of tactile feedback in the controls between pilot/copilot. Even something as simple as a vibration in the sticks, if the difference between them is greater than a certain percentage while not flying in auto, would be very helpful...
***

I JUST watched the science channel (or possibly nat-geo) re-release of the documentary on this flight a couple of days ago. It pretty much paralleled what the pop-mechanics article, except that, as it had been produced before the recorder was located, there was a lot more speculation. (but, their speculation was pretty much right on the target) They'd added a note at the end saying that the recorder had been located after initial production release, and that it had born out their speculation.)

The one major difference between the documentary and the article, was that the documentary had a good theory as to as to why the crew didn't try to avoid the storm; NASA satellite imagery showed that there was a smaller storm located right on the flight path, between the main storm and the plane, and that the plane's weather radar would be able to see the second, major storm until it was too late to avoid it. Essentially, they would pop into the clear as they passed through the smaller storm, and THEN see the main storm ahead on the radar.

[Al.Fisherman]

FABIAN
I feel they do, as a passenger I've flown Boeing equivalent to twice around the equator. Then again when in High School my dad worked for Pan Am, and on to National airlines after serving in the USN..

[Fabian]

Well i'm sold - i'm making sure that i fly Boeing aircraft from now on!!!

[birdmannn101]

Well, the old saying is, "If it Ain't Boeing, we Ain't Going." The noise you hear while the Airbus aircraft is taxing is coming from the "electrical" anti-skid system. Never heard of a Boeing having to land withe nose gear cocked 90 degrees like Jet Blue did. Never heard of the tail falling off a Boeing in flight, just Airbuses. Heck, one day they even plan to fly the aircraft without the pilot. I am sure they will keep one on the flight deck till this works out though.

[Fabian]

That's my new motto from now on (to management booking my flights): "If it Ain't Boeing, I Ain't Going."