Bob Helmriech's "Fifth Generation" describes an attitude of management
that is forgiving of "error" (since human error is inevitable), but not
forgiving of "violations." With this premise, answer me this:
A pilot gets "task saturated" during a rushed approach. His first
attempt to land is high and hot, so, at the suggestion of a crewmember, he
goes around and transisitions into a visual pattern (the weather is OK).
During the visual pattern, he uses airspeeds and flaps settings that are
different than prescribed in the flight manual. His turn to final is high,
close, overshooting, and hot again. He states "we'll use half flaps so I can
get it down", which of course is opposite of basic pilotage. He touches down
quite long, excessively fast, and as a result the aircraft breaks up leaving
the aerodrome boundry.
I think it fair to say that the pilot did not begin the day planning to
botch the landing, but he got overwhelmed by the arrival challenge.
"Error" which should be forgiven? or
"Violation" (of flight manual directives) which should receive
discipline?
Should the PIC and crew be treated different, or the same?
What's your vote?
Greg Deen
HTI C-130 ATS