Air France crash over the Atlantic: Are aircrafts safe from lightning?

[MalcolmNXR]

It just gives me the creeps, thanx for the info.

[Trailrider]

RIP Erich

[shark_za]

If you take 20 years ago, people didn't even know that a plane can crash.

Dude, 30 years ago was the era of the DC-10.
They knew planes could crash !

[Goose]

Really sad, but as long as people remember we are all human and pilots certainly carry huge burdens - not only for their families but the hundreds who entrust their lives to them. PIC - means just that - the bloke or gal sitting on the left can and will make any call if they deem it in the best interests of safety for them, their crew and pax. Obviously the 1st officer/s are involved in the decision making, but ultimately safety comes first.

SA pilots have one of the best safety records in the world, I personally know many - including amost fantastic lady and pilot - Debbie Mann (who I did my COM with) - and it was with this knowledge that I berated a passenger only 2 weeks ago at Gatwick on our flight to Dubai.
The Emirates aircraft had an engine problem - the pilot from his accent was quite obviously a Safrican and his mannerism and assurance that the AC would ONLY continue it's flight once 100% functional, allowed me to rest assured that they knew what they were doing.
This Brit however was really bemoaning the fact that we had a 3 hour delay and he was pissed off.... so I nailed his ass and aksed him whether he'd want to be 100% assured that he'll arrive on the other side, or whether he'd enjoy the flight knowing that they rushed the job and that there might be a chance the engine would fail? Doos gave me a blank look... and shut up for the rest of the delay time!

Ratel - not perhaps you there... 

[TrailBlazer]

Really sad, but as long as people remember we are all human and pilots certainly carry huge burdens - not only for their families but the hundreds who entrust their lives to them. PIC - means just that - the bloke or gal sitting on the left can and will make any call if they deem it in the best interests of safety for them, their crew and pax. Obviously the 1st officer/s are involved in the decision making, but ultimately safety comes first.

SA pilots have one of the best safety records in the world, I personally know many - including amost fantastic lady and pilot - Debbie Mann (who I did my COM with) - and it was with this knowledge that I berated a passenger only 2 weeks ago at Gatwick on our flight to Dubai.
The Emirates aircraft had an engine problem - the pilot from his accent was quite obviously a Safrican and his mannerism and assurance that the AC would ONLY continue it's flight once 100% functional, allowed me to rest assured that they knew what they were doing.
This Brit however was really bemoaning the fact that we had a 3 hour delay and he was pissed off.... so I nailed his ass and aksed him whether he'd want to be 100% assured that he'll arrive on the other side, or whether he'd enjoy the flight knowing that they rushed the job and that there might be a chance the engine would fail? Doos gave me a blank look... and shut up for the rest of the delay time!

Ratel - not perhaps you there... 

+ plenty on what Goose has said here...

It just gives me the creeps, thanx for the info.

Dude, do you think the pilot wants to fly an unsafe aircraft that's going to kill him and his crew, and make orphans of his kids? Not on your life. In that kind of event, the authorities will say "Pilot Error". I can say with authority that NO pilot in his right mind wants this kind of thing to be placed on their shoulders.

Up to the time I left SAA in 1999, and between then and now at Comair, I have seen many pilots refuse to take an aircraft because of a fault. At one stage the technicians workng on Comair's aircraft thought the pilots were trying to be prima-donnas, but eventualy realised that the more the pilots refused an aircraft because of a fault, the more work the techies would have to do, until the problem was sorted; and the more explaining the techies would have to to management, on why the aircraft wasn't fixed properly the first time.

At the same time, an aircraft has enough redundancy systems built in so that in the event of a failure of one system, there will be some other system that can be used.

The Nationwide B737 that lost an engine in Cape Town is a good case in point. The crew got that aircraft off the ground, flew around while assessing their options, and got it safely back on the ground on one engine only, with severe structural damage. That called for some seriously professional flying. As a matter of interest, the Co-pilot on that flight is now flying for Comair.

There are laid-down checks that an aircraft has to undergo. Some are governed by flight hours, and some by days elapsed. If I recall correctly, a "D-Check" is done every 18 months. The aircraft is almost stripped of all panels where there is some sort of operation (cables and pulleys), a lot, if not all, is x-rayed for cracks in the skin, and repairs and modifications are carried out.

There are some aircraft flying at the moment which have clocked up close to 100 000 flying hours. Convert that to kilometres travelled, based at about 900km / h, and that will give you an idea of how far that 'plane has been, with no major incidents.

Remember, an aircraft falling from the sky is the exception, and not the rule!

[MalcolmNXR]

Really sad, but as long as people remember we are all human and pilots certainly carry huge burdens - not only for their families but the hundreds who entrust their lives to them. PIC - means just that - the bloke or gal sitting on the left can and will make any call if they deem it in the best interests of safety for them, their crew and pax. Obviously the 1st officer/s are involved in the decision making, but ultimately safety comes first.

SA pilots have one of the best safety records in the world, I personally know many - including amost fantastic lady and pilot - Debbie Mann (who I did my COM with) - and it was with this knowledge that I berated a passenger only 2 weeks ago at Gatwick on our flight to Dubai.
The Emirates aircraft had an engine problem - the pilot from his accent was quite obviously a Safrican and his mannerism and assurance that the AC would ONLY continue it's flight once 100% functional, allowed me to rest assured that they knew what they were doing.
This Brit however was really bemoaning the fact that we had a 3 hour delay and he was pissed off.... so I nailed his ass and aksed him whether he'd want to be 100% assured that he'll arrive on the other side, or whether he'd enjoy the flight knowing that they rushed the job and that there might be a chance the engine would fail? Doos gave me a blank look... and shut up for the rest of the delay time!

Ratel - not perhaps you there... 

+ plenty on what Goose has said here...

It just gives me the creeps, thanx for the info.

Dude, do you think the pilot wants to fly an unsafe aircraft that's going to kill him and his crew, and make orphans of his kids? Not on your life. In that kind of event, the authorities will say "Pilot Error". I can say with authority that NO pilot in his right mind wants this kind of thing to be placed on their shoulders.

Up to the time I left SAA in 1999, and between then and now at Comair, I have seen many pilots refuse to take an aircraft because of a fault. At one stage the technicians workng on Comair's aircraft thought the pilots were trying to be prima-donnas, but eventualy realised that the more the pilots refused an aircraft because of a fault, the more work the techies would have to do, until the problem was sorted; and the more explaining the techies would have to to management, on why the aircraft wasn't fixed properly the first time.

At the same time, an aircraft has enough redundancy systems built in so that in the event of a failure of one system, there will be some other system that can be used.

The Nationwide B737 that lost an engine in Cape Town is a good case in point. The crew got that aircraft off the ground, flew around while assessing their options, and got it safely back on the ground on one engine only, with severe structural damage. That called for some seriously professional flying. As a matter of interest, the Co-pilot on that flight is now flying for Comair.

There are laid-down checks that an aircraft has to undergo. Some are governed by flight hours, and some by days elapsed. If I recall correctly, a "D-Check" is done every 18 months. The aircraft is almost stripped of all panels where there is some sort of operation (cables and pulleys), a lot, if not all, is x-rayed for cracks in the skin, and repairs and modifications are carried out.

There are some aircraft flying at the moment which have clocked up close to 100 000 flying hours. Convert that to kilometres travelled, based at about 900km / h, and that will give you an idea of how far that 'plane has been, with no major incidents.

Remember, an aircraft falling from the sky is the exception, and not the rule!

But what has that to do with what I said?

[Trailrider]

If after all the facts you still believe it's dangerous then nothing is going to convince you. All that's left is for us to feed your phobia.

Jou vliegtuig gaan val boetie. Van hoog af!

[TrailBlazer]

SNIP

But what has that to do with what I said?

I was trying to explain to you that flying is about as safe as anything else you do. Everything that goes into each pre-flight, and during the flight, is designed around safety. But read again what Trailrider has to say about things. If you don't want to be convinced, then nothing we can say will help you.   

If after all the facts you still believe it's dangerous then nothing is going to convince you. All that's left is for us to feed your phobia.

Jou vliegtuig gaan val boetie. Van hoog af!

[TrailBlazer]

And just by the way... if you're still too scared to fly later on, then you've got a helluva long swim ahead of you to KTM country 

Doesn't matter what you do; you still have to cross the pond to get there, unless you go by ship. Hope you've got about 20 days for a trip each way, over and above your holiday time there.

[MalcolmNXR]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt. Goeie bedoelings  

[LeonDude]

Thinking back to all the small aircraft accidents we had in SA earlier this year, I must say these big companies look after their kites very well.

[MalcolmNXR]

And just by the way... if you're still too scared to fly later on, then you've got a helluva long swim ahead of you to KTM country 

Doesn't matter what you do; you still have to cross the pond to get there, unless you go by ship. Hope you've got about 20 days for a trip each way, over and above your holiday time there.

Dankie, sal dit in gedagte hou.

[LeonDude]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt. Goeie bedoelings  

Dude, n klompie jare terug moes ek vlieg saam met n mannetjie wat net uit skool uit was, op n kort besigheid trippie oos kaap toe. Die ou het gesweet en natuurlik het on ouer manne nou nie juis gehelp nie. Maar toe daai vliegtuig eers in die lug was het hy onmiddelik gerus geraak. Vyf dae later kon hy glad nie wag vir die vlug terug Johannesburg toe nie.

Relax maar, dis ongelooflik lekker om te vlieg, hoekom dink jy doen so baie mense dit sommer vir n hobby!

[Trailrider]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt.

Ek se mos... Jy gaan val!

[MalcolmNXR]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt. Goeie bedoelings  

Dude, n klompie jare terug moes ek vlieg saam met n mannetjie wat net uit skool uit was, op n kort besigheid trippie oos kaap toe. Die ou het gesweet en natuurlik het on ouer manne nou nie juis gehelp nie. Maar toe daai vliegtuig eers in die lug was het hy onmiddelik gerus geraak. Vyf dae later kon hy glad nie wag vir die vlug terug Johannesburg toe nie.

Relax maar, dis ongelooflik lekker om te vlieg, hoekom dink jy doen so baie mense dit sommer vir n hobby!

Ek vrek oor vlieg!!!! Net nie oor die see nie.......

[MalcolmNXR]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt.

Ek se mos... Jy gaan val!

Ok, ek kry die idee......

[Trailrider]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt.

Ek se mos... Jy gaan val!

Ok, ek kry die idee......

Water is die ergste! Jy gaan val maar oorleef, half verdrink en dan vreet 'n haai jou op!

[michnus]

A detailed meteorological analysis of the weather at the time of the crash, very interesting

some discusion by seemingly professional okes pilots forum and another pilot forum

[LeonDude]

Ek glo julle 100%, maaaaar die kans is daar, dis my punt.

Ek se mos... Jy gaan val!

Ok, ek kry die idee......

Water is die ergste! Jy gaan val maar oorleef, half verdrink en dan vreet 'n haai jou op!

Jou vliegtuig gaan n nood landing in digte bosse maak. Jy gaan oorleef maar erg beseer wees. Dit gaan gelukkig reg langs n hospitaal wees, en jy gaan onmiddelik opgeneem word. Maar dit gaan in Zimbabwe wees. Good luck tjom.

[Iron Shark]

Eish en hulle soek nog!