Security Measures Backfired in Germanwings Crash

Now that we know that Andreas Lubitz, the co-pilot of Gernanwings Flight 9525, intentionally crashed the plane, against the wishes of the other 149 people on board, including the pilot, there is specualtion as to whether this was or was not an act of terrorism.

http://speisa.com/modules/articles/index.php/item.1086/the-co-pilot-of-the-germanwings-airbus-was-a-convert-to-islam.html

However, from a purely technical standpoint, it does not matter what Lubitz's motives were, whether he was a converted Jihadist or just a very troubled person. What can the airlines learn for purposes of preventing such tragedies in the future? One thing we can learn is that no matter how thorough the screening, no one can know for sure what is in the mind and heart of another person. But it would certainly have been useful if it had been a little easier for the pilot to break open the cockpit door.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-act-of-terror-on-flight-9525/2015/03/26/4e1ab2bc-d3f5-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html?hpid=z4

The above editiorial by Eugene Robinson makes a good point about the security measures concerning the cockpit door, but Robinson makes it sound as if this problem is one that was caused by security measures adopted after 911. Yet on Flight 93, there were similar problems trying to storm the cockpit, once the terrorists were ensconced there.

http://aya-katz.hubpages.com/hub/The-Right-to-Bear-Arms-in-Flight

Even if the pilot had broken into the cockpit, what if Lubitz had been armed, and the law abiding pilot were not? It would be safer for all concerned if all the passengers were armed, because when 149 people want to live and arrive safely at their destination, and only one person wants the plane to go down, it helps if the many are armed, so that one of them has an opportunity to shoot the deviant in the head and allow the sane pilot to take over the flight.

This is not about religion, politics or mental illness. It's just about safety measures. The fewer restrictions, the more likely it is that the majority who want to live can subdue the minority that wants everyone to die.

http://www.pubwages.com/54/flight-93-a-song-by-leslie-fish

Bombardier Learjet 2011 from AvJet

A Bombardier Learjet 45XR  is now available from Avjet Corporation. To find out more, call (818) 841-6190 or (410) 626-6162 or you can also visit avjet.com.

Co-Pilot May Have Intentionally Crashed Germanwing Plane

According to Marseille public prosecutor,  Brice Robin, the co-pilot of the Germanwing flight intentionally crashed the plane4U 9525 he was piloting. The twenty-eight year old  co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, was alive up until the point of impact.

The pilot had exited the cockpit when co-pilot Lubitz began the descent, and the pilot can be heard banging on the cockpit door in the black box recording and trying to avert the disaster, but there was no answer from Lubitz.

The photo above was from Andreas Lubitz's social media.

Crash in the Alps:Germanwings plane 4U 9525

There are reportedly no survivors of the crash of Germanwings plane 4U 9525 in the French Alps. There were 150 people on board.

The crash occurred after the plane left Digne

The crash occurred when the flight was en route from Digne to Barcelona. The plane did not send any distress signal, but there was no indication of either bad weather or terrorist attack. Germanwings is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa.

The Guardian Coverage
BBC Coverage

Harrison Ford Will Narrate Documentary About Aviation

There is going to be a new film about aviation, and it is narrated by none other than Harrison Ford, screen actor and private pilot. The score for the film is written by James Horner, who is the same composer who wrote the score for The Wrath of Kahn.

Harrison Ford recently suffered injuries from a plane crash that occurred when the World War II 1942 Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR he was piloting had an unexpected engine failure. Nevertheless, Ford was able to land on a golf course. The fact that he landed in a place where there was room enough to do so rather than in a populated area where property would be damaged and people injured, shows that he is a very able pilot.

Living in the Age of Airplanes, the documentary narrated by Harrison Ford will premiere on April 8, 2015 at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, and it will show in IMAX theaters nationwide starting on April 10.

References

http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/blog/marc-lee/2015/03/harrison-fords-accident-teaches-important-lessons.html#.VQht-Y7F98F

http://www.webpronews.com/harrison-ford-narrates-aviation-film-after-near-death-plane-crash-2015-03

http://generalaviationnews.com/2015/03/21/living-in-the-age-of-airplanes-premieres-april-8/