Thread: Pilots used laptop computers while straying off course

Two distracted US pilots were using laptop computers against company rules last week when they overshot their destination by some 150 miles (240 kilometers), federal investigators said.



The pilot, 53, and co-pilot, 54, both experienced fliers with 20,000 and 11,000 hours of flight time under their belt, were questioned for five hours by National Transportation Safety Board officials seeking an explanation to the unusual mistake.



On October 21, a Northwest Airline Airbus A320 from San Diego, California with 147 passengers and five crew was expected to land at Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, but instead grossly overshot it before air-traffic controlers managed to regain contact.



The pilots, with no record of accidents, incidents, violations or medical problems, told NTSB they were not tired at the time and did not have a heated discussion, as media reports had indicated at first.



They said they were in "a concentrated period of discussion" at cruising altitude and did not monitor the airplane or the calls from air-traffic control, even though they both said they heard the radio, the NTSB said in a statement.



The pilots even ignored calls from their company -- Delta Airline, which owns Northwest -- and were using their laptops against company rules while discussing their new work schedules under the company merger.



"Both said they lost track of time," investigators said.



They were oblivious to what was happening when, five minutes before their scheduled landing, a flight attendant called on the intercom to ask when the plane would land.

That is really messed up.



http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp...Scd-vzu-NZ9nMw

I have been unable to put my finger on this yet, but something stinks to high heaven here. Look this plane was flown off course for hundreds of miles, crossing flight paths, no FAA, military, NTSB, or any interdiction. Is this a lame assed attempt to solidify the 911 myth, I dunno, I just know something stinks.

[quote name='Gypsy' date='27 October 2009 - 11:08 AM' timestamp='1256666939' post='45878']

The reports said that the pilots ignored alerts that came across their flight screens, messages from the tower and other attempts to reach them. I don't believe they were playing on their laptops. They were asleep. How else could this happen?

[/quote]

We first heard they were engaged in a spat, then computers. There are actually three in the cockpit, not two. I doubt all three would be asleep.....err unless they were gassed....just saying!

[quote name='michaelr' date='27 October 2009 - 01:24 PM' timestamp='1256664279' post='45838']

I have been unable to put my finger on this yet, but something stinks to high heaven here. Look this plane was flown off course for hundreds of miles, crossing flight paths, no FAA, military, NTSB, or any interdiction. Is this a lame assed attempt to solidify the 911 myth, I dunno, I just know something stinks.

[/quote]



Do you think we'll ever know what really happened?

[quote name='Blueneck' date='27 October 2009 - 11:25 AM' timestamp='1256667948' post='45896']

Do you think we'll ever know what really happened?

[/quote]

We should. I tell you the flipping truth, I am not even sure if it happened at all.

If it involved laptops in the workplace, then I would bet that porn is involved somehow.

[quote name='boontito' date='27 October 2009 - 02:52 PM' timestamp='1256669554' post='45922']

If it involved laptops in the workplace, then I would bet that porn is involved somehow.

[/quote]



That was my first thought. Kind of gives the term "cockpit" a whole new meaning...

[quote name='Blueneck' date='27 October 2009 - 01:41 PM' timestamp='1256676103' post='46023']

That was my first thought. Kind of gives the term "cockpit" a whole new meaning...

[/quote]



Somebody may have soloed their way into the Mile High Club.