Okay this is probably totally crazy... but it just occurred to me and I haven't seen it mentioned.
I would love to know how often this captain flew RECENTLY in a regular plane (not a simulator.)
I know how many flight hours he had... I'd like to know his schedule for the last few months. :twocents:
I've read that this captain was an instructor, a trainer, spent a lot of time in a simulator.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles...0001424052702304020104579431214234709946.html
In a simulator you are in charge... you give the orders... you don't wait for ATC or anyone.
There was another disaster... where a 747 took off without clearance and hit a 2nd 747 still on the runaway.
The pilot who took off without clearance had spent a great deal of time in simulators.
He was found to be at fault for the accident, weather contributed, etc.
He was nearly as experienced as this pilot, highly regarded, training other pilots, etc.
Many wonder if the simulator time had something to do with it... so it occurred to me in this case.
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenerife_airport_disaster"]Tenerife airport disaster - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LepaN0QI-Bs&list=PLpk2k4TVmH5jy09iZ2NQuBDiGCo0qESyW"]The Tenerife Airport 747 Collision - YouTube[/ame]