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What sort of selection process do they have in Germany? He literally went from Burger King fry cook straight to pilot training at Lufthansa/Germanwings. In the US & most countries trainees have demonstrated a passion for flying and are ex-military pilots or have a small plane license.
While it was once true that the majority of US commercial pilots were ex military that certainly is no longer the case. Most US commercial pilots now come from civilian backgrounds.
The 2 person in the cockpit rule is standard in the US, even if it just a flight attendant. It isn't ostensibly a "even we don't trust our pilots" rule but for safety in case the singe pilot is incapacitated (heart attack), needs to call for help, or in the German case to open the door. There is only so much you can do, if the pilot had stayed in the cockpit the copilot could still have stabbed him in the back and slit his throat.
While it was once true that the majority of US commercial pilots were ex military that certainly is no longer the case. Most US commercial pilots now come from civilian backgrounds.
Civilian aviation backgrounds with flight experience. Not a fry cook who flew gliders. You don't go from gliders to Airbuses.
Civilian aviation backgrounds with flight experience. Not a fry cook who flew gliders. You don't go from gliders to Airbuses.
Co-pilot was 27.
His employment at BK was 8 +/- years ago when he was in his late teens.
Most commercial pilots acquired a love of flying at an early age. My local HS has a few kids every year who fly and aspire to be commercially pilots. And some have part time entry level jobs to help support their training and flight hours.
Yes seems he was suffering from depression and was suicidal , bastard, why didn't he just stick his head in the oven instead of taking all those people with him .
I would think it was a combination of being suicidal and a coward - not wanting to go to death on his own. I imagine he somehow felt that he could do it because he had others with him. The definition of selfishness and cowardice. If there is a heaven and a hell, I wonder if he would be forgiven, or if all those people he killed (and their families) will torment him forever.
Last edited by blktoptrvl; 03-29-2015 at 01:04 PM..
I find it strange that they want to put a flight attendant in the cockpit, when the pilot/co-pilot need to leave the cockpit. If the pilot has ill-intent, what is going to stop him from messing with the controls with just a "flight attendant" in the cockpit?
He/she (flight attendant) is not going to know or understand what the pilot is doing (as in sabotaging the plane, to crash into a mountain) so they need 2 pilots in the cockpit and a 3rd back up, (someone who understands flight) if one needs to leave, so 2 pilots and one who understands how to fly the plane, are in there at all times...
Sure, it's going to cost them more money to pay 3 capable pilots but aren't the passengers worth that?.....
I suspect many flight attendants would have an issue with being referred to as "just a "flight attendant" ". Flight attendants have quite a bit of education and training.
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