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Implications of the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash: two in the cockpit, pilot mental fitness, release of information, and media speculation. Also, a great conversation with a pilot and doctor who flies medical staff and supplies into rural Mexico.
Guest
Dr. Michael Budincich is a Doctor of Chiropractic and he is passionate about flying and about aiding those who are less fortunate. “Dr. Bud” combines these by flying doctors and medical supplies into rural clinics in the Baja California Peninsula of Mexico.
For many years, Dr. Bud has been a member of the “Flying Samaritans,” bringing free chiropractic care to disadvantaged people in Mexico. He is also a member of several “flying doctor” groups such as LIGA (Flying Doctors of Mercy). He works with Missions of Baja as a missionary pilot, translator, and chiropractor. Dr. Bud has treated thousands of impoverished Mexican nationals and flown much needed medications, clothing and supplies to the clinics of Baja.
We talk with Dr. Bud about how he came to be involved with the Flying Samaritans and serving clinics in Mexico. We hear about the challenges of flying doctors and supplies into unimproved strips in Baja, as well as the roles for pilots, doctors, associated professions, translators, and even administrators. Dr. Bud formed Manos Con Alas Ministries, his own non-profit to bring volunteer doctors to Mexico, and flew humanitarian missions in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.
Airstrip at Bahia de Los Angeles, or Bay of LA
Dr. Bud is a founding member of the Academy of Forensic and Industrial Chiropractic Consultants (FAFICC) and has held elected offices within the local, county and state chapters of the California Chiropractic Association for many years. Dr. Bud is also a state appointed “Qualified Medical Examiner” and a past examiner for the California State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, the state’s licensing body. His website is DrBud.com.
News
The investigation into the causes for the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525 is still underway, and the media is delivering a great deal of speculative information. Nevertheless, there are some related topics that we discuss in a general way:
- Release of information while the investigation is underway
- Ensuring the mental fitness of airline pilots
- A “two in the cockpit” rule
- Cockpit video
- “Crash proofing” technology
See these articles for more opinion and information:
- Two in the Cockpit Rule, After Germanwings 4U9525 Tragedy This is Where it Stands and Why it Matters
The Australia News Desk
Grant’s back from an exhausting week working on hot air balloons while Steve’s feeling relaxed. Lucky him!
Mentioned
Bonus
Lionheart on final to Moontown (3M5) by Jamie Dodson. Taken March 28th, 2015 at Moontown Alabama, 7 Miles east of Huntsville.
Credit
Germanwings A320 photo courtesy Alec Wilson from Khon Kaen, Thailand.
Opening and closing music courtesy Brother Love from the Album Of The Year CD. You can find his great music at brotherloverocks.com.
Hi Guys,
Quick comment about the investigation process of aviation incident. If I am not wrong, In US, NTSB took lead of the investigation and pass it over to FBI if criminal intent is suspected. FBI will return the lead back to NTSB if no criminal intent is found.
In France, the prosecutor investigate the criminal aspect and BEA investigate the technical aspect concurrently.
Why the BEA has been quiet so far, I can only think like NTSB, they can only disclose information once it is confirmed.
Regards
Did that GermanWings pilot, owe Lufthanza monies for his training?
Wow Dr Bud seems like a very genuine guy. I admire his ability to join his passion for aviation and helping people together. I bet he’s quite the pilot from landing on all those dirt strip and poorly maintained airports over the years.
Great work on the podcast!
Every country I know of has an aviation accident investigation instutution that is independent from political or judicial pressure.
Their reports are explicitly not about who is guilty but are documenting the accident as well as possible and recommend ways to avoid the same thing from happening again if possible..
Such an investigation usually takes one year or longer.
So stop lashing out at them. The US are not the only civilized country in the world.
There are countries ruled by dictators and corruption where accident investigation is [expletive deleted] but if they are our allies nobody cares anyways.
The problem is the news industry that has to bring breaking news every 15 minutes to sell their advertising. Also there is an army of lawyers who tries to sue the hell of any company or person with money to extract. Both of the above have started and are still most widespread in the U.S.
A prosecutor on the other hand looks at things differently. He tries to find out if and prove that a crime has been committed, be it with a gun or an airplane. Prosecutors are usually not squeamish when it comes to using the publicity to get things going. Again this is not unknown to happen in the U.S.
I agree with some of George’s comments, but not the first point. Some countries have a culture where air accidents are criminal investigations, or at least not free from that influence.
[Note that I deleted the expletive in the author’s comment. We like to keep this child friendly!]