Originally posted by SYDCBRWOD
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Where did I say anything contrary to all that? I didn't ignore or dismiss anything. In fact, in my post before that one I specifically mentioned "more pressure than he could handle" as tho only possible explanation for intentionally busting the minimums.
Pressure is always a factor in a decision. And I agree that pressure from the President and the Air Force Commander (your Big Boss if you are an Air Force pilot like in this case) would be a very strong factor.
Yet, the person who put the pressure vs the safety on the scale and the one who made the final call was the PIC. He could have said "No". He wasn't requied to surrender under any pressure or to follow any order from anybody in this World (or outside for the matter).
Under no way do I intend to imply that it would have been easy. Just that it was possible and within the control of the PIC. As the previous flight where the pilot disobeyed the President (and many other examples) have shown. (there are many counter-examples where pressure won too)
For some pilots "more pressure than he could handle" was "I want to go home early". For others it was "I want to be kind with my boss to improve chances of promotion". For others it was "I don't want to loose my job". For others it was a gun against his head.
Every pilot (or any person for the matter) has his limits. A good pilot tend to have stricter limits. And the pilot flying for the President (and the whole top of the government) should be the best one available... unless the top of the government wanted a "docile" one that they could handle at their wish.
Exactly the same principle of the culture of safety (or lack of) in airlines.
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