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Back-story QF32 p 141 – Michael von Reth
Richard and Michel von Reth (in front of his favorite indigenous artwork). Sydney 2011 Introduction (by Richard de Crespigny) It is rare that I find myself in absolute awe in the presence of a...
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Back-story QF32 p 340 – Chinese Symbol for the word ‘CRISIS’
I received the following correspondence from Dr Derwyn and Carolyn Jones – passengers on QF32. In the spirit of the “glass being half full, not half empty”, I echo their thoughts and share them below:...
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Photos – Mentors, Friends & Legends (not in the QF32 book) – John Bartels
John Bartels (QF32 page 27) John – the Captain of QF30 that suffered an explosion of the oxygen cylinder on 25 July 2008. John and his technical crew were faced with about 30 checklists to complete....
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Back Story QF32 p 124 – Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger
I have just added one more memory to my list of life’s great experiences. I spent many hours yesterday with Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the captain of US Airways flight 1549 that successfully...
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Back Story – Air Traffic Controllers
20 October – International Day of the Air Traffic Controller Today is the International Day of the Air Traffic Controller. I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the profession of Air Traffic...
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Social Media kills the Golden Hour
Crisis, Social Media and Citizen Journalists There is a saying that if the media is reporting your story, and if there is a hole in the story, then someone else will fill that hole if you don’t. And...
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QF32 and the Golden Circle
In relation to the actions of the pilots and cabin crew, the final ATSB report provides excellent detail about most of WHAT happened. The critical “HOW they happened” and even more important “WHY they...
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Byron Bay Writers’ Festival
The beautiful coastal retreat of Byron Bay means two things to me: Byron Bay (in my dreams!) (iStockphoto) A week after the QF32 event, when I was exhausted, my friends Simon Ford and John Connolly...
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The Empirical Skeptic
Update IFALPA says “Stop speculating about MH370“ The Empirical Skeptic Viewers of last night’s Air Crash Investigators program (Australia on Channel 7) have asked me many questions including: Why...
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My Next Book Announced
Sunrise from the ISS (Photo NASA) We are in safe hands! Australia’s future women pilots. (Photo RDC) I am excited to announce my next book <name withheld>. The timing of this next book now...
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“Resilience at the edge of chaos” (My interview with Mark Bouris)
I enjoyed being interviewed by Mark Bouris this week about “Resilience at the edge of chaos”. We discussed issues ranging from the neuroscience of leadership to survive ‘Black Swan events’, to future...
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3 Interviews on Black Swans, Resilience & Oshkosh “Theater in the Woods”
“Knowledge” Painting by Coplu (Coplu.Com) Report on Resilience “Resilience – Recovering pilots’ lost flying skills” The Royal Aeronautical Society, London has published the report that I produced...
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Technical – QF32’s Hydraulics, Apollo 13 and the “Fog of War”
Your Highness Ms Universe by Coplu (Coplu.Com) Mike asks: Hi Richard, Having read your book QF32 and a number of resources available online, please let me ask one question regarding your video...
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RAeS & ICAO –“Nancy-Bird Walton Lecture”
Side by Side: Two “birds in a gilded cage” (by Coplu, coplu.com) I am honoured to present the inaugural Nancy-Bird Walton Lecture on behalf of the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) at the...
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Decision Making (…..& ptsd)
Below find a link to the High Stakes video, a one hour SBS Insight program in which I join many people discussing how people make high-stakes decisions in the face of life and death. Decision Making is...
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Happy New Year
Happy New Year! (Thanks to my dear friend Coplu for the rights to display his beautiful art (Coplu.Com)) My last day of 2016 ended with a twenty four hour long tour of duty flying from Melbourne to...
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FINALLY- FLY! IS AIRBORNE
I am pleased to announce that my next book called FLY! – Life Lessons from the Cockpit of QF32 is available NOW in Australian book shops, just in time for Fathers’ Day. Purchase autographed paper...
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Flying Approaches for Dummies
Version 3, Feb 25, 2021 TECHNICAL – FOR PILOT’S EYES ONLY QF32 follower Riccardo Parachini writes: Hi Richard, I’d like to ask a curiosity. Cadet pilots starting their career on a big jet (say A320,...
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