Category Back Stories

Back Story – QF32 page 261

16 November, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, QF32 Story, Technical, Technical Crew · 5 Comments

I have always welcomed robust debate and constructive criticism. Matthew Squair, a very intelligent expert in risk and safety systems (and a person whom I hold in the highest regard)  raises the question:  “Is there a role for military control checks in civilian aircraft?” This question opens up a very large topic! Food for thought. […]

Documentaries, Interviews and Media

4 November, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, QF32 Story, Reviews, Richard de Crespigny · Leave a comment

Summary There have been many media interviews since the QF32 book was launched.   Some were funny, some serious.  Here are links to some … Documentaries 60 Minutes  (15 minutes, February 2011) 4 Corners QF32 program (1 hour, March 2011) Three additional & technical 1:1 interviews  (40 minutes – total) Air Crash Investigation: S13E10 – Qantas 32: Titanic […]

Back Story QF32 p 159 – Startle Effect, Fight, Flight, Play Dead and Deliberate Practice

2 November, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Psychological, Training · 9 Comments

Our reaction to stress and panic has evolved as a successful survival strategy. Imagine a panic situation such as a lion attacking us. Deep within our brains, sitting atop the brain stem, the limbic system is the first set of brain structures to comprehend and recognise the sight and the roar of the approaching lion […]

Back Story QF32 p 345 – A380 (Route) Specifications

24 October, 2012 · by · in A380, Back Stories, QF32 Story, Technical · 1 Comment

A380 (Route) Specifications WARNING:  This is a very technical posting! Writes Mike Farmery (a friend)  from the UK:  I would appreciate it if you could help me with some information.   I am giving a talk at a local school very soon called ‘The Chemistry of Flying’. I would like to start it off with a […]

Back Story – Air Traffic Controllers

20 October, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Management, QF32 Story, Teamwork, Technical Crew · 1 Comment

20 October – International Day of the Air Traffic Controller Today is the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the profession of Air Traffic Controllers to the safety of our aviation industry. Throughout my career I have trained, developed and worked along side this band of […]

Back Story QF32 p 18 – Ariel Red Hunter

16 October, 2012 · by · in Back Stories · Leave a comment

The need, interest and skill in learning and understanding the foundation levels in mechanics and motors has diminished in today’s new age of high automation, planned obsolescence and robot production lines. Even if we could learn about how motors work, the cost to repair motors is now so high, and failures are so seldom, that […]

Back Story QF32 p 336 Passenger – Claire Ryan

11 October, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Passengers, QF32 Story · Leave a comment

Congratulations and best wishes to Claire and Costa! Claire Ryan was the beautiful passenger who appeared on the 60 Minutes Story (7 minutes 15 seconds into the video) about QF32.  We have made contact many times since that flight – some of her correspondence is printed in the QF32 book at page 336. Claire and I have […]

Back Story QF32 p 124 – Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger

10 October, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Management, Psychological, QF32 Story, Reviews, Teamwork, Technical Crew · 5 Comments

I have just added one more memory to my list of life’s great experiences. I spent many hours yesterday with Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the captain of US Airways flight 1549 that successfully ditched in the Hudson in 2009 and the captain who saved the lives of 155 passengers and crew. Sully is a quiet […]

Post Traumatic Stress and PCM (QF32 p 311)

27 September, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, Personal, Psychological, QF32 Story · 5 Comments

The feedback I have received from QF32 readers has been profound. By far the greatest surprise I have had when reading the responses is to discover how many people are afflicted by their own version of Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). “The nightmares continue – every night” Many stalwart friends have contacted me to pass on […]

Pheu!

10 September, 2012 · by · in Back Stories, QF32 Story, Richard de Crespigny, Technical Crew, Training · 8 Comments

I’ve just passed the third of my four annual (four hour) simulator checks for this year.  It is not a trivial effort – requiring two full weeks of considerable preparation. So now I have time to answer your (extensive) questions and publish more back stories.    Ensure you have entered your details at “FOLLOW BLOG […]

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