How Pilots Wrestled In Vain to Save Air France Jet

Reuters ^ | Tim Hepher

[A_perfect_lady]

I don't think it's irrational at all. When you fly, you are way up in the air! In a metal tube. And if something goes horribly wrong, there ain't no where to go but DOWN.

[expatpat]

You’re right — I put the wrong name to the AI, which is what I meant.

[PiperShade]

I spoke briefly with a cousin (who flys long-range biz-jets) about the accident before the FDRs were recovered. He mentioned he flys through the accident region regularly and weather is always present in the inter-tropical convergence zone.

FWIW, (that cousin has many thousands of hours in heavy transport aircraft), noted a lack of hand-flying skills and discouragement of practice developing such was common in all organizations he was familiar with. I suppose its due to its impact upon efficiency, hence range and “flight safety”. >PS