Air France 447 "What really happened"

[Tupac]

This is an absolutely chilling read.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/crashes/what-really-happened-aboard-air-france-447-6611877-2

[Krupinski]

So they didn't realize they were descending? Did Airbus forget to equip the plane with a VSI and an Altimeter? 

[Tupac]

So they didn't realize they were descending? Did Airbus forget to equip the plane with a VSI and an Altimeter? 

I don't think they were believing their instruments.

[fudgums]

I'm with Krup.

it is descending at a rate of 10,000 feet per minute, at an angle of 41.5 degrees.

They didn't know they were descending? Even if they level it out, they might be alive right now.

[Tupac]

I'm pretty sure the attitude indicator wouldnt show anything at 40 degrees (most in small airplanes have marks up to 20 degrees, I know nothing of big planes though so maybe Golfer could confirm.), a VSI would be pegged going down, and they didnt have any reference to the horizon. (They were in the clouds) It's quite easy to become disoriented in the clouds, it happened to me pretty bad my first couple of times in IMC. I felt like I was in a 45 degree turn to the left but in reality I was straight and level.

http://www.europeanpilotacademy.com/portals/43/TheLeans.pdf

[Tupac]

I think if my ASI was showing essentially 0, my stall warning wasnt going off, and my VSI was pegged (but the plane seemed relatively controllable) I would assume I was stable. Flying into a thunderstorm could (in theory) wreak havoc with your instruments, going from a standard pressure of 29.92 (used for operations above 18k) into what could possibly have been 27.XX pressures. That would indicate a rapid descent and indicate a much lower altitude.

[Tupac]

well, 2k feet lower wouldnt a a huge deal if your at 37k, but it would definitely wooly with you VSI.

[Tordon22]

Pitch and power, control and performance.

[B-17]

My friend and I were having a discussion on why we still need pilots. He said our computers are far and away good enough to take care of anything on their own...

I'll be showing him this link.

[FTJR]

So they didn't realize they were descending? Did Airbus forget to equip the plane with a VSI and an Altimeter? 

The VSI was working perfectly, it was pegged at it max, and the guy assumed it had failed.

[Krupinski]

The VSI was working perfectly, it was pegged at it max, and the guy assumed it had failed.

What about the altimeter, did he assume that failed too? 

[Tupac]

What about the altimeter, did he assume that failed too? 

If you assumed your VSI and ASI were screwed, it would be safe to assume that you think your entire pitot-static system is wonky. I bet he didnt trust his altimeter, either.

[colmbo]

I'm pretty sure the attitude indicator wouldnt show anything at 40 degrees (most in small airplanes have marks up to 20 degrees, I know nothing of big planes though so maybe Golfer could confirm.), a VSI would be pegged going down, and they didnt have any reference to the horizon. (They were in the clouds) It's quite easy to become disoriented in the clouds, it happened to me pretty bad my first couple of times in IMC. I felt like I was in a 45 degree turn to the left but in reality I was straight and level.

They were descending at a 41 degree glide path, not pitch angle.  The nose was pitched up throughout.  It seemed they certainly were aware they were descending, they just couldn't figure out the why/how to fix part.

[Tupac]

They were descending at a 41 degree glide path, not pitch angle.  The nose was pitched up throughout.  It seemed they certainly were aware they were descending, they just couldn't figure out the why/how to fix part.

Oh ok.

[PuppetZ]

The plane was falling. He did the only thing his panicking human brain told him to do. Pull the damn stick. It's night, you're bored and something like that happen. They both went brain dead. Cost many lives. I never flew on a night flight. I'll try to stay the hell away from them...scary thing. If he had seen outside he may have realized what was going on before it was too late. Edit : or maybe not. Who knows......