- #141
russ_watters
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Chilling.
So I was wrong: the pilot error was much worse. Greg's article basically says that aside from sporadic and not overly serious airspeed indication faults, there was nothing wrong with the plane: nothing affecting it's flyability. The crash was caused by the one co-pilot applying full back pressure to the stick for nearly the entire event and neither the other copilot nor the captain recognizing it (except for a brief moment during the first stall) until it was too late.russ_watters said:So it sounds like the cause was faulty speed indication leading to a stall, then pilot error in recovering: http://content.usatoday.com/communi...rance-flight-experienced-35-minute-freefall/1
With the report into the tragedy of Air France 447 due next month, Airbus’s 'brilliant’ aircraft design may have contributed to one of the world’s worst aviation disasters and the deaths of all 228 onboard.
On average, commercial jets are struck by lightning once or twice a year. However, due to advanced technology and safety measures, these strikes rarely result in accidents or damage to the aircraft.
When a commercial jet is struck by lightning, the electricity travels along the outer surface of the aircraft and exits through its tail. This does not cause any damage to the aircraft's structure or systems, as they are designed to withstand such strikes.
Commercial jets are equipped with a lightning protection system, which includes metal conductors along the exterior of the aircraft that safely direct the lightning's energy away from the aircraft. Additionally, the fuel tanks are designed to prevent explosions in case of a lightning strike.
While a lightning strike can be a frightening experience for passengers, it is highly unlikely to cause a commercial jet to crash. As mentioned, the aircraft's structure and systems are designed to withstand lightning strikes, and pilots are trained to handle such situations.
Yes, it is generally safe to fly during a thunderstorm. Commercial jets are equipped to handle lightning strikes and pilots are trained to navigate through severe weather. However, for the safety and comfort of passengers, pilots may choose to divert the flight path to avoid areas of severe weather.