Quote:
Originally Posted by mikecweb  I think trying to hold pilots to high standards isn't why this industry and country are so effed up. I think it's effed up that there are pilots out there lacking knowledge of basic flight rules. Having a high time captain is no excuse for lack of knowledge. Mistakes do happen. Incompetency should not be forgiven. |
Nothing wrong with holding people to a higher standard. The problem is in the way it is done.
When all you do is criticize and bash someone for a mistake instead of educating them, then you are creating additional problems and not fixing the original. Sometimes basic rules can be forgotten when either brand new to an area of operation or when you have so much experience you begin to slack. Does that mean that person should be crucified on the spot, no questions asked? What good does that do?
I am not sure how it is in the pilot ranks, but on the mtx side the philosophy of "Make a mistake? YOUR FIRED!!!" has been eliminated at most levels in favor of: Make a mistake? Own up to it (admit it), ask yourself how it happened, re-educate, get back to work.
From what I understand the change in philosophy with US airlines started about 10-15 years ago. In that time frame incidents resulting from mtx have dropped dramatically.
Which brings me to my last topic: have you ever made a mistake?
If your answer is no, then I bow to you since your the next messiah
That being said, what happens after you make that mistake? Do you usually make it again? 99.9% out there usually do not. They learn from it and that experience cures most incompetence.
Re-educate, then punish. It is a philosophy that works. If you suppress questions based on: "Since you asked a 'stupid' question you must be incompetent" then you create an atmosphere where the questions that really need to be asked never get asked and that is worse then letting the isolated incident go.
Now that being said.......If he makes the same mistake again or asks the same questions over and over.... Fry the sucker.
I close with this:
Who would you rather have fly the plane:
1. The guy who makes the mistake, doesn't realize it, doesn't ask the question, and possibly keeps doing it?
2. The the guy who made the mistake, realized he made it, owns up to it, asks the question, and probably won't make the same mistake?