Unintentionally Hilarious
If you have followed the Nigerian scammers, and
the various counter-scammers that make monkeys of them, you're familiar with the
unintentionally hilarious wording of Nigerian scams. This article in the
Nigerian newspaper, The Independent, is no scam; indeed, it's well-intentioned.
It still manages to rise to the level of unintentional hilarity.
Two excerpts: "the employment of incompetent individuals may jeopardize flight safety and cause plane crashes," and "The world over, especially in developed countries, rules exist regarding the consumption of alcohol by crew members".
The original article is here. If it's gone, it's stowed under "read more".
Unlike the scammers, the author, Michael Uchebuaku, certainly means well, and we probably shouldn't laugh at him... but it's irresistible.
Two excerpts: "the employment of incompetent individuals may jeopardize flight safety and cause plane crashes," and "The world over, especially in developed countries, rules exist regarding the consumption of alcohol by crew members".
The original article is here. If it's gone, it's stowed under "read more".
Unlike the scammers, the author, Michael Uchebuaku, certainly means well, and we probably shouldn't laugh at him... but it's irresistible.
Causes of plane
crashes
Michael Uchebuaku,
Lagos
Human mistakes and mechanical difficulties are the common reasons that result in aviation accidents. But the aviation authorities in every country sets safety standards for pilot conduct, flight operations, and aircraft manufacture, but these guidelines are minimum safety standards that are not always enforced well enough to prevent some airplane accidents. There are many different reasons a plane crash may occur. Aviation authorities exist to set minimum safety standards for flight operations, aircraft manufacture, and pilot conduct, and aviation safety may also be governed by federal or state laws.
The more common causes of plane crashes in the world include:
Pilot Errors- Pilots are responsible for transporting the plane’s passengers from one destination to another. Pilots have a duty to follow air safety rules that have been outlined and created to better ensure the safety of everyone on board or else risk an aircraft accident.
Faulty Equipment- Faulty equipment, or even poorly maintained equipment can fail and cause an airplane to crash.
Violating Aviation rules and regulations- Aviation laws exist to protect everyone using air travel. Violations of these regulations can endanger the safety of anybody and everybody in the air.
Structural or design problems with an aircraft.
For instance, if the plane is poorly built, it would most likely crash resulting in fatalities.
Flight service station employee negligence.
All staff at a flight service station must always be alert to their responsibilities as any misinformation or faulty communication with pilots of planes in the air may result in crashes.
Federal air traffic controllers’ negligence.
The same applies to employees at the federal air traffic control. Competent professionals must be employed to play these roles as the employment of incompetent individuals may jeopardize flight safety and cause plane crashes.
Third party’s carrier selection negligence.
Maintenance or repair of the aircraft or component negligence
Lack of proper and regular maintenance of air craft can cause planes to crash as planes, like all machines, need to be serviced from time to time. Disrespect for adequate and regular maintenance considering the dangers flying pose, is too great a risk for any airline to take.
Fueling the aircraft negligence
Like cars, planes too run out of fuel. Neglecting to refuel an aircraft before takeoff is a clear recipe for disaster.
Possible aviation violations that can cause a plane crash can include:
• Federal air traffic controllers' negligence
• Third party's carrier selection negligence
• Flight service station employee negligence
• Structural or design problems with an aircraft
• Maintenance or repair of the aircraft or component negligence
• Fueling the aircraft negligence
Pilots flying a plane are responsible to safely transport the people on the aircraft to the destination location by following certain air safety rules. The failure to properly do so can result in an instance of absolute fatality. In addition, when a plane has faulty or poorly maintained equipment on its aircraft it can result in the plane crashing. And whenever a plane crash occurs, it is usually due to some type of negligence or bad weather or even due to an act of sabotage or terrorism.
Pilot’s error as a cause of plane crash may include:
• a misuse of the aircraft controls
• misjudgment of altitude or the proximity of other objects
• failure to obtain a proper weather briefing
• operating the aircraft beyond its capabilities
• flying under conditions which the pilot is not qualified to handle
The human element: That by which we have physical or mental control to recognize, change, prevent, or mitigate a situation. Approximately 80 percent of all air crashes fall into this category. While the previous definition called it "pilot error," the term has been changed to "human error" to more realistically reflect that anybody who acts in a support capacity of a flight may contribute to the error chain. Not just the pilot. Of the previously cited 80 percent, the American NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) further breaks down human errors into the following categories:
Human error chart (usa)
Unprofessional Attitudes 47%
Visual Perception Misjudgment 19%
Pilot Technique 21%
Inflight Judgment or Decision 5%
Improper Operation of Equip. 6%
Unknown Causes 4%
Continuing with statistical data, the following tables depict the causes of accidents (in percent) from the 1950's through the 1990's. Note that "pilot error" has, and still does, account for the highest percentage of accidents.
"Pilot error (weather related)" represents accidents in which pilot error was involved but brought about by weather related phenomena. "Pilot error (mechanical related)" represents accidents in which pilot error was involved but broughtabout by mechanical failure. "Other human error" includes air traffic controller error, improper loading of aircraft, fuel contamination, improper maintenance etc. Sabotage includes explosive devices, shoot downs and hijackings. "Total pilot error" is the total for all types of pilot error (on the fourth line in yellow). Where there were multiple causes, the most prominent cause was used.
Rules Guarding Against Alcoholic Pilots and crew members
The world over, especially in developed countries, rules exist regarding the consumption of alcohol by crew members. For instance, on July 1st, 2002 in Miami U.S.A the crew of an America West Airlines Airbus 319 attempted to takeoff an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol.
According to CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Title 14, Aeronautics and Space, Part 91.17, the rules are clear.
(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft --
(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
(4) While having .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.
(b) Except in an emergency, no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in that aircraft.
It's interesting to note that Item 4(b) gives the pilot the right to not let a passenger be carried on his aircraft if the would-be passenger appears under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Other causes of plane crashes and other aircraft accidents include defective design or manufacture of the aircraft and extreme weather conditions.
In the case of bad weather as a cause of plane crash, analysts also say that bad weather, like thunderstorms or fog, can compound pilot error, while small mechanical problems can affect other aspects of a plane’s ability to function. In many cases, planes have flaws that may not be discovered until after disaster strikes. Still, investigators have done useful work in making sense of perplexing crashes, and as a result many safety features are regularly added to planes.
Analysts also reveal that the poor state of equipment used in the airports of some developing countries, may also lead to plane crashes. They say that if obsolete equipment is problematic in air traffic control towers, faulty equipment in airplanes would equally be deadly and the combination of the two would definitely lead to catastrophe.
Terrorism is also among the causes for plane crashes in these modern times. On September 11, 2001 in the United States of America:
Four terrorists hijacked United Airlines flight 93, which departed Newark and was destined for San Francisco. The plane crashed in Somerset, Pennsylvania killing all 45 persons on board. The intended target of that hijacked plane may never be known, but it is believed that it was bound for the White House. It is important to point out that due to the bravery of the passengers in overpowering the hijackers on that doomed flight, the aircraft was prevented from being used as a missile.
Five terrorists hijacked American Airlines flight 77, which departed Washington Dulles Airport and was destined for Los Angeles. The plane was flown directly into the Pentagon. A total of 189 persons were killed, including all who were onboard the plane.
Five terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which departed Boston and was destined for Los Angeles. The plane was flown directly into the north tower of the World Trade Center. On board the aircraft were 81 passengers, nine flight attendants, and the two pilots.
Five terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 175, which departed Boston and was destined for Los Angeles. The plane was flown directly into the south tower of the World Trade Center. On board the aircraft were 56 passengers, seven flight attendants, and the two pilots.
In the end, more than 3000 persons were killed in these four heinous attacks.
Michael Uchebuaku,
Lagos
Human mistakes and mechanical difficulties are the common reasons that result in aviation accidents. But the aviation authorities in every country sets safety standards for pilot conduct, flight operations, and aircraft manufacture, but these guidelines are minimum safety standards that are not always enforced well enough to prevent some airplane accidents. There are many different reasons a plane crash may occur. Aviation authorities exist to set minimum safety standards for flight operations, aircraft manufacture, and pilot conduct, and aviation safety may also be governed by federal or state laws.
The more common causes of plane crashes in the world include:
Pilot Errors- Pilots are responsible for transporting the plane’s passengers from one destination to another. Pilots have a duty to follow air safety rules that have been outlined and created to better ensure the safety of everyone on board or else risk an aircraft accident.
Faulty Equipment- Faulty equipment, or even poorly maintained equipment can fail and cause an airplane to crash.
Violating Aviation rules and regulations- Aviation laws exist to protect everyone using air travel. Violations of these regulations can endanger the safety of anybody and everybody in the air.
Structural or design problems with an aircraft.
For instance, if the plane is poorly built, it would most likely crash resulting in fatalities.
Flight service station employee negligence.
All staff at a flight service station must always be alert to their responsibilities as any misinformation or faulty communication with pilots of planes in the air may result in crashes.
Federal air traffic controllers’ negligence.
The same applies to employees at the federal air traffic control. Competent professionals must be employed to play these roles as the employment of incompetent individuals may jeopardize flight safety and cause plane crashes.
Third party’s carrier selection negligence.
Maintenance or repair of the aircraft or component negligence
Lack of proper and regular maintenance of air craft can cause planes to crash as planes, like all machines, need to be serviced from time to time. Disrespect for adequate and regular maintenance considering the dangers flying pose, is too great a risk for any airline to take.
Fueling the aircraft negligence
Like cars, planes too run out of fuel. Neglecting to refuel an aircraft before takeoff is a clear recipe for disaster.
Possible aviation violations that can cause a plane crash can include:
• Federal air traffic controllers' negligence
• Third party's carrier selection negligence
• Flight service station employee negligence
• Structural or design problems with an aircraft
• Maintenance or repair of the aircraft or component negligence
• Fueling the aircraft negligence
Pilots flying a plane are responsible to safely transport the people on the aircraft to the destination location by following certain air safety rules. The failure to properly do so can result in an instance of absolute fatality. In addition, when a plane has faulty or poorly maintained equipment on its aircraft it can result in the plane crashing. And whenever a plane crash occurs, it is usually due to some type of negligence or bad weather or even due to an act of sabotage or terrorism.
Pilot’s error as a cause of plane crash may include:
• a misuse of the aircraft controls
• misjudgment of altitude or the proximity of other objects
• failure to obtain a proper weather briefing
• operating the aircraft beyond its capabilities
• flying under conditions which the pilot is not qualified to handle
The human element: That by which we have physical or mental control to recognize, change, prevent, or mitigate a situation. Approximately 80 percent of all air crashes fall into this category. While the previous definition called it "pilot error," the term has been changed to "human error" to more realistically reflect that anybody who acts in a support capacity of a flight may contribute to the error chain. Not just the pilot. Of the previously cited 80 percent, the American NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) further breaks down human errors into the following categories:
Human error chart (usa)
Unprofessional Attitudes 47%
Visual Perception Misjudgment 19%
Pilot Technique 21%
Inflight Judgment or Decision 5%
Improper Operation of Equip. 6%
Unknown Causes 4%
Continuing with statistical data, the following tables depict the causes of accidents (in percent) from the 1950's through the 1990's. Note that "pilot error" has, and still does, account for the highest percentage of accidents.
"Pilot error (weather related)" represents accidents in which pilot error was involved but brought about by weather related phenomena. "Pilot error (mechanical related)" represents accidents in which pilot error was involved but broughtabout by mechanical failure. "Other human error" includes air traffic controller error, improper loading of aircraft, fuel contamination, improper maintenance etc. Sabotage includes explosive devices, shoot downs and hijackings. "Total pilot error" is the total for all types of pilot error (on the fourth line in yellow). Where there were multiple causes, the most prominent cause was used.
Rules Guarding Against Alcoholic Pilots and crew members
The world over, especially in developed countries, rules exist regarding the consumption of alcohol by crew members. For instance, on July 1st, 2002 in Miami U.S.A the crew of an America West Airlines Airbus 319 attempted to takeoff an aircraft while under the influence of alcohol.
According to CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Title 14, Aeronautics and Space, Part 91.17, the rules are clear.
(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft --
(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
(4) While having .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.
(b) Except in an emergency, no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in that aircraft.
It's interesting to note that Item 4(b) gives the pilot the right to not let a passenger be carried on his aircraft if the would-be passenger appears under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Other causes of plane crashes and other aircraft accidents include defective design or manufacture of the aircraft and extreme weather conditions.
In the case of bad weather as a cause of plane crash, analysts also say that bad weather, like thunderstorms or fog, can compound pilot error, while small mechanical problems can affect other aspects of a plane’s ability to function. In many cases, planes have flaws that may not be discovered until after disaster strikes. Still, investigators have done useful work in making sense of perplexing crashes, and as a result many safety features are regularly added to planes.
Analysts also reveal that the poor state of equipment used in the airports of some developing countries, may also lead to plane crashes. They say that if obsolete equipment is problematic in air traffic control towers, faulty equipment in airplanes would equally be deadly and the combination of the two would definitely lead to catastrophe.
Terrorism is also among the causes for plane crashes in these modern times. On September 11, 2001 in the United States of America:
Four terrorists hijacked United Airlines flight 93, which departed Newark and was destined for San Francisco. The plane crashed in Somerset, Pennsylvania killing all 45 persons on board. The intended target of that hijacked plane may never be known, but it is believed that it was bound for the White House. It is important to point out that due to the bravery of the passengers in overpowering the hijackers on that doomed flight, the aircraft was prevented from being used as a missile.
Five terrorists hijacked American Airlines flight 77, which departed Washington Dulles Airport and was destined for Los Angeles. The plane was flown directly into the Pentagon. A total of 189 persons were killed, including all who were onboard the plane.
Five terrorists hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which departed Boston and was destined for Los Angeles. The plane was flown directly into the north tower of the World Trade Center. On board the aircraft were 81 passengers, nine flight attendants, and the two pilots.
Five terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 175, which departed Boston and was destined for Los Angeles. The plane was flown directly into the south tower of the World Trade Center. On board the aircraft were 56 passengers, seven flight attendants, and the two pilots.
In the end, more than 3000 persons were killed in these four heinous attacks.
Posted: Monday - November 07, 2005 at 03:00 PM
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