Hugo,
The report is available from columbian gov. I suggest a review might
answer your questions. In any event, the 757 has valid reasons for not
retracting spoilers with the addition of power. There are several reasons
for wanting to maintain high RPM while descending and having the spoilers
deployed is one way of doing it. Remember that these are in-flight spoilers,
not ground spoilers (which activate and deactivate on various parameters).
The report explains this very well and I do not see any design flaw in this
system arrangement.
As for the pilot's ability: Both pilots were plenty experienced
according to the report. However, I do not believe that their experience
flying planes in general is at issue. More likely, the issue is whether or
not the FMS display adequately supported situational awareness in this case.
It appears that it did not. When looking at accidents like these, I like to
ask myself (being a pilot) If I were in this situation could I have made the
same mistake? I also ask if the accident would have occured if the cockpit
had been "steam gauges" instead of "glass". I find it hard to believe, in my
analysis of this accident, that it would have occured in a steam gauge
aircraft..
--
Donald Anders Talleur email: dtalleur_at_uiuc.edu
Institute of Aviation- Willard Airport
Aviation Research Laboratory- 244-8687
Pilot Training- 244-8606
If at first you don't succeed, find out if the loser gets anything!
(Bill Lyon: Philadelphia)