Ya Libnan

Pilot inexperience, exhaustion behind ET409 crash, report

Share:

On the eve of the anniversary of the crash in Lebanon of Ethiopian airlines flight ET409,  LBC TV reported that the  investigation of the incident continues and is being handled by the manufacturer with the participation of Ethiopia and Lebanon.

The Boeing 737 crashed on January 25, 2010 just after taking off from Beirut international airport . All 90 people on board died as a result of the crash.

According to LBC  sources  the investigation so far revealed that the crash occurred because of poor judgment by the  Ethiopian Airlines management in choosing the crew, especially since the the captain and his copilot ,were exhausted as a result of working more than a hundred flight hours during that month, while according to international regulations they should not be working more than sixty flight hours.

Furthermore the captain and his copilot did not have enough experience in flying such a plane . According to the investigation 1500 flying hours are required to fly the 737 while neither the captain nor the copilot had more than 200 hours of experience.

The investigation so far confirms the preliminary report of May 2010 which revealed that “both the pilot’s and co-pilot’s inexperience with the jet was “certainly behind the accident”.

According to LBC sources the committee in charge of the investigation is planning to meet in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on January 24 to start drafting the reported which is expected to take about 3 month to be completed

Share:

Comments

26 responses to “Pilot inexperience, exhaustion behind ET409 crash, report”

  1. FlyForFood Avatar
    FlyForFood

    I’m an Ethiopian Airlines Captain, and I can tell you that this airline routinely schedules pilots far in excess of even their own rules. The Ethiopian scheduling regulations are considerably less stringent than the rest of the world, and then Ethiopian does not even abide by those rules. I personally know pilots who are flying over 125 hours a month. In addition, in recent months Ethiopian has DECREASED the rest requirements for their pilots and flight attendants, and has INCREASED the allowed length of the duty day. But it doesn’t matter. If they are going to exceed a duty day, they just offer to pay them an extra $70 to stay on duty and finish the trip, and if they refuse to do it in violation of the regulation they get punished in other ways with their schedule. The Ethiopian CAA is in bed with the airline, and there is no regulatory oversight. Ethiopian Airlines is a government owned company, and has no competition in the country. And of course the CAA is a government entity as well, so there is no real oversight. I have no doubt that this airline will continue to have accidents due to pilot fatigue.

    1. zelalemb Avatar
      zelalemb

      As your name indicates you Just fly to Eat (food) , but even form you good language I can see that you are a captain in your dreams only or a use less one . Which one of the captain flown more than 125. You are only for food

      1. I_fly_for_food_as_well Avatar
        I_fly_for_food_as_well

        zele benatih silematawkew neger atileflif, what z captain said is absolutely true,eventhough its hard to believe. Ethiopian airlines used to be all those nice things that people say about it, but not any more, infact ET is very far from being a good airline, dont get me wrong, I wish the airline prevails and stands out as one of the top airlines in the world, afterall its one of the very few good things that this poor country has going on right now.

      2. I_fly_for_food_as_well Avatar
        I_fly_for_food_as_well

        zele benatih silematawkew neger atileflif, what z captain said is absolutely true,eventhough its hard to believe. Ethiopian airlines used to be all those nice things that people say about it, but not any more, infact ET is very far from being a good airline, dont get me wrong, I wish the airline prevails and stands out as one of the top airlines in the world, afterall its one of the very few good things that this poor country has going on right now.

      3. I_fly_for_food_as_well Avatar
        I_fly_for_food_as_well

        zele benatih silematawkew neger atileflif, what z captain said is absolutely true, and who doesnt fly for food. There are lots of pilots who fly more than 110 hours a month which is the legal limit for ethiopian civil aviation.Ethiopian airlines used to be all those nice things that people say about it but not any more, Dont get me wrong, I wish ET prevails and stands out as one of the best, but with the current management I REALLLLY DONT THINK SO!!!!!

      4. I_fly_for_food_as_well Avatar
        I_fly_for_food_as_well

        hwj

      5. I_fly_for_food_as_well Avatar
        I_fly_for_food_as_well

        hwj

    2. zelalemb Avatar
      zelalemb

      As your name indicates you Just fly to Eat (food) , but even form you good language I can see that you are a captain in your dreams only or a use less one . Which one of the captain flown more than 125. You are only for food

    3. Daniel G Avatar
      Daniel G

      well, FLY FOR FOOD, i can confidently say that u r not even ethiopia.u know the thing with u lebanese, u r all stupid liars.,When u want to lie or impersonate an ethiopian citizen, try to make it convincing next time….

    4. Daniel G Avatar
      Daniel G

      well, FLY FOR FOOD, i can confidently say that u r not even ethiopia.u know the thing with u lebanese, u r all stupid liars.,When u want to lie or impersonate an ethiopian citizen, try to make it convincing next time….

  2. Avatar
    Anonymous

    I’m an Ethiopian Airlines Captain, and I can tell you that this airline routinely schedules pilots far in excess of even their own rules. The Ethiopian scheduling regulations are considerably less stringent than the rest of the world, and then Ethiopian does not even abide by those rules. I personally know pilots who are flying over 125 hours a month. In addition, in recent months Ethiopian has DECREASED the rest requirements for their pilots and flight attendants, and has INCREASED the allowed length of the duty day. But it doesn’t matter. If they are going to exceed a duty day, they just offer to pay them an extra $70 to stay on duty and finish the trip, and if they refuse to do it in violation of the regulation they get punished in other ways with their schedule. The Ethiopian CAA is in bed with the airline, and there is no regulatory oversight. Ethiopian Airlines is a government owned company, and has no competition in the country. And of course the CAA is a government entity as well, so there is no real oversight. I have no doubt that this airline will continue to have accidents due to pilot fatigue.

    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      As your name indicates you Just fly to Eat (food) , but even form you good language I can see that you are a captain in your dreams only or a use less one . Which one of the captain flown more than 125. You are only for food

      1. Avatar
        Anonymous

        zele benatih silematawkew neger atileflif, what z captain said is absolutely true,eventhough its hard to believe. Ethiopian airlines used to be all those nice things that people say about it, but not any more, infact ET is very far from being a good airline, dont get me wrong, I wish the airline prevails and stands out as one of the top airlines in the world, afterall its one of the very few good things that this poor country has going on right now.

      2. Avatar
        Anonymous

        zele benatih silematawkew neger atileflif, what z captain said is absolutely true, and who doesnt fly for food. There are lots of pilots who fly more than 110 hours a month which is the legal limit for ethiopian civil aviation.Ethiopian airlines used to be all those nice things that people say about it but not any more, Dont get me wrong, I wish ET prevails and stands out as one of the best, but with the current management I REALLLLY DONT THINK SO!!!!!

      3. Avatar
        Anonymous

        hwj

    2. Avatar
      Anonymous

      As your name indicates you Just fly to Eat (food) , but even form you good language I can see that you are a captain in your dreams only or a use less one . Which one of the captain flown more than 125. You are only for food

    3. Daniel G Avatar
      Daniel G

      well, FLY FOR FOOD, i can confidently say that u r not even ethiopia.u know the thing with u lebanese, u r all stupid liars.,When u want to lie or impersonate an ethiopian citizen, try to make it convincing next time….

  3. Nigusu Worku Avatar
    Nigusu Worku

    I am expert in Aviation Industry and I know very much Ethiopian Airlines as one of the safest airline in the world and it has been in business for the last 65 years. I take the article as just a fabrication of attempting opinion on the case. Ethiopian Airlines is one which is registering growth miraculously and that really amazes me. I do not at all think and beleive that the management of Ethiopian Airlines makes such a mistake in safety. I had also a chance to fly many times to America and Far East using Ethiopian Airlines, I had a seamless travel with excellent customer services by hostesses. Landing and take off is world class and that is the quality of Ethiopian Airlines pilots. Just plan your next travel on Ethiopian Airliens and you will enjoy the service and get thrilled!!!!!

  4. Nigusu Worku Avatar
    Nigusu Worku

    I am expert in Aviation Industry and I know very much Ethiopian Airlines as one of the safest airline in the world and it has been in business for the last 65 years. I take the article as just a fabrication of attempting opinion on the case. Ethiopian Airlines is one which is registering growth miraculously and that really amazes me. I do not at all think and beleive that the management of Ethiopian Airlines makes such a mistake in safety. I had also a chance to fly many times to America and Far East using Ethiopian Airlines, I had a seamless travel with excellent customer services by hostesses. Landing and take off is world class and that is the quality of Ethiopian Airlines pilots. Just plan your next travel on Ethiopian Airliens and you will enjoy the service and get thrilled!!!!!

  5. Mikiyas Tesfaye Avatar
    Mikiyas Tesfaye

    I am one of the pilots of Ethiopian Airlines. I have flown the airline for the last 20 years. As a professional, I have to say the truth and the fact only. Ethiopian airlines flight operations policy and enforcement is very strict. I do remember that if duty time is expired, then we stop the flight even at the cost of flight cancellations. Of course, the pilot in command can extend the duty time for fifteen or thirty minutes after getting consent from all his crew. But this is entirely upto the discretion of the pilot in comman and this is practiced by many airlines. In fact, I always feel that Ethiopian Airlines is to strict in enforcing flight operations safety rules. As an active pilot, I can confidentaly say that what is written in this website is wrong and outright lies.

  6. Mikiyas Tesfaye Avatar
    Mikiyas Tesfaye

    I am one of the pilots of Ethiopian Airlines. I have flown the airline for the last 20 years. As a professional, I have to say the truth and the fact only. Ethiopian airlines flight operations policy and enforcement is very strict. I do remember that if duty time is expired, then we stop the flight even at the cost of flight cancellations. Of course, the pilot in command can extend the duty time for fifteen or thirty minutes after getting consent from all his crew. But this is entirely upto the discretion of the pilot in comman and this is practiced by many airlines. In fact, I always feel that Ethiopian Airlines is to strict in enforcing flight operations safety rules. As an active pilot, I can confidentaly say that what is written in this website is wrong and outright lies.

  7. Mikiyas Tesfaye Avatar
    Mikiyas Tesfaye

    I am one of the pilots of Ethiopian Airlines. I have flown the airline for the last 20 years. As a professional, I have to say the truth and the fact only. Ethiopian airlines flight operations policy and enforcement is very strict. I do remember that if duty time is expired, then we stop the flight even at the cost of flight cancellations. Of course, the pilot in command can extend the duty time for fifteen or thirty minutes after getting consent from all his crew. But this is entirely upto the discretion of the pilot in command and this is practiced by many airlines. In fact, I always feel that Ethiopian Airlines is strict in enforcing flight operations safety rules. As an active pilot, I can confidentaly say that what is written in this website is wrong and outright lies.

  8. zelalemb Avatar
    zelalemb

    This report is just an indicative of very low level of professionalism in the Lebanon media . before you put some thing in your page you have to talk to people in the industry . by reporting the flight hour for the crew is less than 200hrs you indicated that you have less knowledge about it . this is imposable specially with an airlines like ET with 65 years of safe flight record . this much experience … you will not get it many airline you know call it …

  9. Avatar
    Anonymous

    This report is just an indicative of very low level of professionalism in the Lebanon media . before you put some thing in your page you have to talk to people in the industry . by reporting the flight hour for the crew is less than 200hrs you indicated that you have less knowledge about it . this is imposable specially with an airlines like ET with 65 years of safe flight record . this much experience … you will not get it many airline you know call it …

  10. Online-Kaufberatung für progesterone in der Schweiz Avatar
    Online-Kaufberatung für progesterone in der Schweiz

    Everything is very open with a clear description of the
    issues. It was really informative. Your site is very helpful.
    Many thanks for sharing!

  11. Achat rapide de coumadin en France en ligne Avatar
    Achat rapide de coumadin en France en ligne

    I love it when individuals come together and share opinions.
    Great blog, continue the good work!

Leave a Reply