Thread by @BALPApilots

Following the #MH370 report, we need more investment in new technology and end to irresponsible speculation.

balpa.org/Media-Centre/P…

It was widely speculated at the time of the incident and subsequently that a pilot on the aircraft was to blame for the missing flight but that has been dismissed at the press conference this morning with lead investigator saying there is ‘no evidence’ this was the case.

Speculation on the cause of accidents can be distressing for the relatives of the victims and it can divert the investigating team. It is irresponsible to slander the reputation, professionalism and memory of a pilot who was as much a victim of this accident as anyone else.

Indeed, we increasingly see commentators leap to medical or psychological causes when in fact technical and regulatory causes are more likely to be at the root of an accident or incident.

People found it incredible that in this day and age we could lose track of an aircraft in this way. We believe a global push to replace the old technology that still sits in cockpits would help avoid accidents and help accident investigation.

For example, computer interfaces and navigation functions still use the old 1980s-style typed commands, and this issue does feature as being contributory to a number of accidents.

This accident has led to an industry-wide response to develop better systems for aircraft tracking and the recovery of flight data recorders from stricken aircraft, which we support.

We hope, for the furtherance of aviation safety and for feelings of the bereaved that one day the cause for this accident will be found. #MH370 /end