One Advantage Of A Free Country

To read a column about one of the greatest differences between aviation in the U.S.A., and aviation in a less free country, just Google . (That worked this morning, but who knows how long it will stay there.) To be fair, I must point out that Ms. West is a conservative columnist in the Washington Times. However, I would write about this column if it originated in a left-wing rag.

The column questions the “investigation” of the 2011 airplane crash of a Polish aircraft that killed all aboard, including Poland’s president and first lady. Ms. West raises many questions about the resultant investigation, and even wonders if this crash was intentionally caused, rather than accidental.

For details, Google the column. This blog is just a celebration of the fact that secrecy charges seldom (if ever) arise after a crash involving U.S.A. aviation.

One of the great reasons for the unbelievable safety record of our airlines is that when a major accident occurs, the truth will out. Our investigations are open to the multitudes and that makes secrecy impossible. I have believed this for years but became fully convinced after speaking for the ISASI (International Society of Air Safety Investigators) convention a few years ago.

After an accident, everyone with an ax to grind shows up for the investigation. Like most things in a free country, that gets a little messy but makes it extremely hard to hide facts. We learn a lot and lives are saved.

How many of you remember the crash of Southern Airlines in Georgia in April 1977? The DC-9 entered an area of heavy weather, using airborne radar to avoid cells. It didn’t work.

Before that accident, many (most?) of us had never heard of “radar attenuation.” I know I hadn’t. Afterwards, it was heard by all, and we eagerly sought more info. For details, just Google. One site says that “Attenuation is interruption of a radar beam by intense precipitation,” which is true, but doesn’t begin to explain the complexities of avoidance. Every IFR pilot in the country (world?) spent gobs of time trying to find out what it was and how to avoid it. Radar experts were sought out for advice.

There are many such stories and they all tell the same tale—thank goodness for freedom of access in our country and others.