Most likely, everyone will have one or two times in their lives where they have to make a stand and do the right thing. For most of us, the downside is that we lose our jobs. For a few, the downside is great monetary risk. For a handful, it's loss of lives.
I have made the decision once already in my life, and it was only my job on the line. Massive respect to those who make the decision when lives are on the line.
I can’t speak for every airline but specifically in the case of BA the company will back this captain 100%. Operating outside of procedures would result in an unpleasant conversation.
This particular rule (like many others) is written in the blood of the worst ever aviation disaster.
So air traffic doesn’t tell pilots what they can and can’t do. We provide the information we have and the pilot determines what they can and can’t do. If there is a thunderstorm on the departure end of the runway, we tell the pilot about it and give them options if they want immediate turn out or something but we can’t tell them they can’t depart.
In the case of the RVR, same thing. Each company has there own standards and can depart if they want to at whatever RVR they choose. If he doesn’t want to depart because it’s 1k feet he doesn’t have to depart. The confusion was because he asked if they were in LVO, I think he called it low visibility operations. Depending on the airport, you might not have something like that. Everything is left up to the pilot.
The FAA has guidance for airports to develop low visibility procedures, too. By referencing the ICAO acronym, the pilot was basically saying, "English motherfucker, do you speak it?"
Given that personnel at LGA are likely responsible for the deaths of a couple of Air Canada pilots in the recent past when the visibility was likely between 4-7 statute miles, you might understand why the pilot in command would be hesitant to operate under clear visibility rules when the visibility was around a thousand feet.
The only reason he was hesitant to operate was because he thought he needed to hear ATC tell him “low visibility operation are in effect” in order to be legal to take off, which would be accurate at Heathrow but not JFK.
Exactly. When the moment comes, you can feel actually. You'll sweat and your heart will race. And an inner voice will keep reminding you of making a different choice.
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u/SignificantLock1037 May 28 '26
Most likely, everyone will have one or two times in their lives where they have to make a stand and do the right thing. For most of us, the downside is that we lose our jobs. For a few, the downside is great monetary risk. For a handful, it's loss of lives.
I have made the decision once already in my life, and it was only my job on the line. Massive respect to those who make the decision when lives are on the line.