Parallels Between AirAsia and 2009 Air France Flight Crashes

Strategic Insights -

The AirAsia flight crash shares parallels with the 2009 ocean crash of Air France Flight 447, which killed all 228 people on board. Both flights were flying into storms when they disappeared, and pilot confusion over faulty air-speed data contributed to the crashes. The investigation into the AirAsia crash may provide insight into what went wrong, including the role of automation in the cockpit.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Air France Flight 447 crash investigation found that faulty air-speed data from iced-over sensors contributed to the pilots' confusion, leading to a steep climb despite requests to descend.
  • The pilot of the AirAsia Airbus A320 told air traffic control he was approaching threatening clouds, but was denied permission to climb to a higher altitude.
  • The plane lost contact minutes later, and search teams have not yet found the black boxes containing crucial information about the causes of the crash.
  • The 2009 crash of Air France Flight 447 was, in part, a lesson in the hazards of automation, where panicking pilots took actions that made matters worse.
  • Many have cautioned that pilots are often ill-equipped to take over when automation fails, and that a disconnect between pilots and automation can increase the risk of accidents.
  • Aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and the FAA have begun to focus on pilots' ability to take over and fly the old way, rather than relying solely on automation.
  • In Asia, there is a tendency to rely excessively on automation in aircraft, partly due to manufacturers' emphasis on ease of learning and training.

Statistics:

  • Air France Flight 447 crashed on June 1, 2009, killing all 228 people on board.
  • The plane plummeted into the ocean at nearly 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) per minute, 12,800 feet (3,900 meters) beneath the surface.
  • The investigation into the AirAsia crash is ongoing, but the search has been complicated by strong currents moving the debris.
  • The AirAsia plane was last in contact with air traffic control about 9:17 a.m. local time on December 28, 2014.
  • The plane lost contact when it was approaching threatening clouds, and was denied permission to climb to a higher altitude.

Sources:

  • Lori Hinnant, Associated Press. "AirAsia flight has parallels with 2009 ocean crash".
  • Deborah Hersman, former chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, and David Greenberg, a former Delta Air Lines executive. Quoted in Lori Hinnant, Associated Press.