Sods law of the ocean.
A very rare event occurs which hurls an airline into the spotlight, willy-nilly; high drama and media hysterics (even from some who should know better). There was some luck involved, but it was well ‘earned’ luck. The GE engine has performed very, very well and served faithfully for many hundreds thousands of hours, in all manner of conditions. The engineers who maintain and monitor the well being of not only the engines and airframes but the propellers, avionics, and all the many ‘systems’ which keep aircraft safe; they do this very well and it’s not ‘just a job’ to them. The aircrew work hard and train for ‘emergency’ situations, such as the once or twice in a career ‘engine failure’ and know how to manage, flawlessly, an ailing engine, in any weather, day or night. There was very little call on ‘luck’ reserves involved in the eventual safe outcome.
Fortune rewarded the hard work and although a propeller abandoned ship, it hurt no one and hit nothing (apart from terra firma); it even managed to be found and the answers to the ‘why’ and ‘how’ will, in time, be determined.
But, Sod’s law still applies: in the spotlight and the first event is followed by two more events; with safe outcomes, in quick succession. They say three times proves the charm; well that’s three now, so it should see the end of the run (fingers crossed). All that’s left to worry about is the possibility of a CASA witch hunt and a desperate need to sheet home ‘blame’ in the name of safety. I say ‘safety’ was served very well and the focus should be prevention not prosecution.
Toot-toot.
A very rare event occurs which hurls an airline into the spotlight, willy-nilly; high drama and media hysterics (even from some who should know better). There was some luck involved, but it was well ‘earned’ luck. The GE engine has performed very, very well and served faithfully for many hundreds thousands of hours, in all manner of conditions. The engineers who maintain and monitor the well being of not only the engines and airframes but the propellers, avionics, and all the many ‘systems’ which keep aircraft safe; they do this very well and it’s not ‘just a job’ to them. The aircrew work hard and train for ‘emergency’ situations, such as the once or twice in a career ‘engine failure’ and know how to manage, flawlessly, an ailing engine, in any weather, day or night. There was very little call on ‘luck’ reserves involved in the eventual safe outcome.
Fortune rewarded the hard work and although a propeller abandoned ship, it hurt no one and hit nothing (apart from terra firma); it even managed to be found and the answers to the ‘why’ and ‘how’ will, in time, be determined.
But, Sod’s law still applies: in the spotlight and the first event is followed by two more events; with safe outcomes, in quick succession. They say three times proves the charm; well that’s three now, so it should see the end of the run (fingers crossed). All that’s left to worry about is the possibility of a CASA witch hunt and a desperate need to sheet home ‘blame’ in the name of safety. I say ‘safety’ was served very well and the focus should be prevention not prosecution.
Toot-toot.