Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Pilot Error.

These findings were troubling.....

A Navy Blue Angels pilot killed in a crash in a residential area last year apparently had become disoriented after failing to properly tense his abdominal muscles to counter the gravitational forces of a high-speed turn, The Associated Press has learned.

then I read on and learned this.....

The Pensacola-based Blue Angels fly without the G-suits that most fighter pilots wear to avoid blacking out during such maneuvers. The suits inflate and deflate air bladders around the lower body to force blood to the brain and heart.
However, the air bladders can cause a pilot to bump the control stick, so the Blue Angels instead learn to manage the forces by tensing their abdominal and leg muscles.

So it's "Pilot Error" to not wear the equipment that will allow for the task to be completed....uh, shall we say, safely? Pilot error is a catch all phrase that the powers that be look to and lean on when they need a fast and easy answer. Maybe they should take another look at those G-Suits, Some modification or improvement might be in order. However, that would require some accountability and after all the cause of the incident was "Pilot Error".

Tragic loss. Investigation complete. Case closed?

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