Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike734  Just a couple of thoughts.
1. Usually when they want to fire you it is because they want you gone and have for a while. Do you have a reputation?
2. Did you discuss the decision to return to your departure airport with your dispatcher? If you have one you should have.
3. What was the actual wx at the time of your approach? I don't mean the ATIS as that can be 1 hour old or more. Was there freezing rain/dz at the time of your arrival?
4. The decision is ultimately the captains but that does not mean it can not be questioned. If you have a reputation of making "bad" decisions according to your employer then you need retraining and/or more experience.
If your employer can only attract relatively low time pilots then they get exactly what they paid for. You made the right decision based on the information you had at the time because it was YOUR decision to make. Even if 99/100 pilots would do something different, if YOU don't feel comfortable then YOU made the right decision.
My advice would be to document as much as possible and get experts to defend you.
Good luck. |
OK, here's the answers.
1. I have no reputation at Skyway. No failed checkrides, PC's, etc. No disciplinary actions prior (actually nothing even remotely close). I get along well with all my FO's and flight attendants. Essentially, I'm squeaky clean (until this).
2. I discussed the possibility of returning with dispatch BEFORE I took off. There was -FZRA in DAY when I left and I correctly assumed that it would probably continue for some time. I gave them copies of all my documentation just so they would know that it wasn't a decision that I just pulled out of the air. They just toed the company line that, "we've always done it and since we have holdover times for -FZRA that it must be peachy keen to fly through it". I told the CP's assistant the same thing. The consensus was typical Skyway: "Just go and we'll see what the weather does when you get there". God forbid that someone in that company would actually have the balls to make any kind of decision. (Side note: when the DO was chewing my ass for returning he specifically pointed out that he was displeased that I shared my "outside information" and "personal opinions" with dispatch.
3. They were just about to change ATIS as we were getting in range. The brand new ATIS also was broadcasting -FZRA (this condition continued until approx 9pm - the incident took place at 2pm).
4. I agree 100% that they have the right to question the decision. The thing that's frustrating is that the manufacturer says, "Takeoff into freezing rain, including light freezing rain is not permitted". How much clearer does it need to be. Instead of admitting they were wrong they just say that they disagree with that interpretation of the warning and will attempt to get it retracted. Also, I've spoken with 3 former research pilots from NASA who have extensive experience doing icing research (they fly the Twin Otter in those NASA training videos). All three of those guys said that I absolutely did the right thing and that even "light" freezing rain has plenty of moisture to potentially cause very serious trouble.
I agree with your comment about 99/100 pilots doing something differently. In ground school certain limitations are highlighted as being especially important and must be committed to memory (i.e. airspeeds, ITT limits, etc). This icing limitation was not among them. I just happened to stumble across it when I was browsing the AFM. I'm sure there are pilots at Skyway who are not even aware of it or, if they are, are not fully aware of the danger that SLD icing can cause and decide to play the odds. Thus we've created an environment of, "we've always done it that way". (Funny how they actually use that lame argument as an excuse).