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Plane That Crashed Near Buffalo Was on Autopilot
ABC News ^ | February 15, 2008 | LARRY NEUMEISTER

Posted on 02/15/2009 5:27:28 PM PST by Melissa 24

The commuter plane that crashed near Buffalo was on autopilot until just before it went down in icy weather, indicating that the pilot may have ignored federal safety recommendations and violated the airline's own policy for flying in such conditions, an investigator said Sunday.

Federal guidelines and the airline's own instructions suggest a pilot should not engage the autopilot when flying through ice. If the ice is severe, the company that operated Continental Flight 3407 requires pilots to shut off the autopilot.

(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: autopilot; autopilots; buffalo; continentalairlines; crash; flight3407
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Oh no.
1 posted on 02/15/2009 5:27:28 PM PST by Melissa 24
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To: Melissa 24

At this point it would behoove the NTSB spokesman to wait for the final evaluation of the data before rushing out to do pressers.


2 posted on 02/15/2009 5:38:03 PM PST by Carley (President Obama ~ Leaving No Tax Cheat Behind)
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To: Carley

If these lethal weapons are flown by AUTO pilots, why do they have PILOTS on board?


3 posted on 02/15/2009 5:39:46 PM PST by rovenstinez
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To: rovenstinez

wasn’t it a woman piolot?


4 posted on 02/15/2009 5:40:49 PM PST by Chickensoup ("Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.")
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To: Chickensoup

Hmmmmmmmmm........

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/08/remote-controlled-autopilot-to-prevent-hijacking/


5 posted on 02/15/2009 5:44:54 PM PST by acoulterfan
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To: Chickensoup

The co-pilot was a 25 y.o. woman.


6 posted on 02/15/2009 5:45:13 PM PST by Atlantian
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To: Chickensoup

Yes.


7 posted on 02/15/2009 5:46:00 PM PST by FrdmLvr (What fresh hell is this?)
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To: Atlantian
The co-pilot was a 25 y.o. woman.

On tonight's ABC network news, they said the pilot was a man.  Showed his picture and said he's been with the company for three years.  Yet the audio recordings are of a woman's voice.  Something smells here.

8 posted on 02/15/2009 5:48:27 PM PST by MNnice
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To: MNnice

re: Something smells here

Not necessarily. It’s common for one person to fly the aircraft while the other handles communication. IFR flight, even on autopilot, can be pretty demanding. Communication with ATC, especially in a busy area, can be handled by the other person in the cockpit. Some aircraft and flying conditions won’t permit single-pilot IFR.

As an earlier poster noted it’s very unfortunate anyone associated with the investigation in any way would start making public info that’s being collected. Things like deicer operation and autopilot status are not as simple as they might seem to those whose knowledge of flying is limited to seeing lots of movies about airplanes. All sorts of individual facts depend on all sorts of other individual facts. It is patently unfair to the crew to release preliminary data that is then used to try to second guess what was being done in a very complicated situation.


9 posted on 02/15/2009 5:59:14 PM PST by jwparkerjr (God Bless America!)
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To: MNnice

You think they’ll try to pin in on the younger female copilot???


10 posted on 02/15/2009 5:59:31 PM PST by ak267
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To: Carley
At this point it would behoove the NTSB spokesman to wait for the final evaluation of the data before rushing out to do pressers.

I have to agree. My ex and his friend had a crash several years ago in a small plane...(both survived) and the cause was found to be the autopilot.

It came on during the flight (not turned on manually) and as they were turning to make a final approach to the airport... the plane wouldn't turn or slow down. They could only go up or down.

Eventually... they found a field to set it down. When the autopilot was put in the laboratory...it took 65lbs to override. The pilot was a big man...and said he tried turning it with all his might...to the point he felt he would snap something off. Records showed the autopilot hadn't been maintenanced properly and had a "glitch".

11 posted on 02/15/2009 5:59:46 PM PST by LaineyDee (Don't mess with Texas wimmen!)
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To: jwparkerjr
It’s common for one person to fly the aircraft while the other handles communication.

I have personally witnessed this several times.

12 posted on 02/15/2009 6:01:31 PM PST by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: rovenstinez

I remember an old Air Force song had a line that went:
The Auto Pilots on, The Pilot’s reading novels in the john
Or maybe the co-pilot distracted him. How could an auto-pilot
fly you into the ground.
And they can land in an icy river and save all hands.
barbra ann


13 posted on 02/15/2009 6:01:44 PM PST by barb-tex (He will simply soak the filthy rich, and help the common man.)
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To: MNnice

The captain, a man, was flying the plane. The co-pilot, a woman, was not. It’s often the co-pilot who communicates to the ACT while pilot is flying.
I don’t see anything wrong with the presser annoucing that the auto-pilot was engaged when the plane lost control, if they’ve determined that (which apparently they have.) We non-pilot folks have to be careful with speculation and reactions- any FReeper pilots input welcomed:)


14 posted on 02/15/2009 6:02:31 PM PST by tabor
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To: acoulterfan

That is very interesting!


15 posted on 02/15/2009 6:03:31 PM PST by tapatio
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To: Melissa 24
Even if this autopilot theory holds any credence...

IF THIS COMMUTER AIRPLANE DESIGN HAD AN ADEQUATE AIRFOIL ANTI-ICING SYSTEM (preventative of ice build-up)...

Instead of the woefullly inadequate leading edge pneumatic "boot" DE-ICING SYSTEM (Works by casting off ice periodically -- AFTER -- it adheres to the wing surfaces)... Autopilot use would be a NON-ISSUE --

The big jets simultaneously use autopilot and anti-icing systems routinely--

16 posted on 02/15/2009 6:17:36 PM PST by Wings-n-Wind (The main things are the plain things!)
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To: Chickensoup
wasn’t it a woman piolot?

Don't know about the "piolot" but the co-pilot was a young woman from Washington State (where I live).

17 posted on 02/15/2009 6:20:58 PM PST by sionnsar (IranAzadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5(SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|TaglineSpaceForRent)
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To: SkyDancer

From what I understand...that is standard procedure? (Using autopilot)


18 posted on 02/15/2009 6:28:28 PM PST by Northern Yankee (Freedom Needs A Soldier)
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To: Melissa 24

I hope this isn’t true. I have often wondered if flying a plane on autopilot in other-than-good conditions was somewhat akin to driving your car with the cruise control on in really bad weather. Not a good idea.


19 posted on 02/15/2009 6:29:52 PM PST by TheBattman (Pray for our country....)
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To: Melissa 24

Oops...


20 posted on 02/15/2009 6:32:20 PM PST by shekkian
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