I whole-heartedly agree that experience and environment are vital factors in
determining if honest self-assessment can occur. I am influenced by mishap
reports. I know that it CAN happen to me. It only takes one friend's crash to
open the eyes of many aviators. Also, the type of crew and mission have a big
impact on the individual. On my last deployment to the desert in the KC135,
we had some emergency drill conducted in the middle of the night. As an
aircraft commander, it was my responsiblity to query the crew about how this
action affected their crew rest and if they felt able to fly the following
day. Who else would stick up for them? The fighter crews that I talked to
never even considered the fact. They just don't "whine" about crew rest.
I think it helps to be responsible for other crew members. It is easier for
me to face the establishment as the commander of others than to stand alone
for my own needs. It's an interesting topic. The bottom line, really, is
that crew members are put in a position to choose between being ridiculed for
not getting sleep due to a domestic issue or being second-guessed when the
unthinkable occurs and a safety board determines he/she was at fault for not
making the call to stay on the ground.
While I was "brought up" thinking that the mission was of utmost importance, I
find it ironic that your student thought a mission which was complete was
therefore safe. This is a great topic for our kind of military flying. I
appreciate the wonderful insight.
Thanks!
Teri Poulton-Consoldane
Vance AFB, OK