It's completely left to the pilots to keep it safe...
This accident and its lack of professional conduct wasn't because of lack of experience. It was because of lack of professionalism. I'm going to guess that you haven't read the operational factors section yet (if you've read any of these at all, I know it's a lot to wade through). The FO in this case had 3,500 hours. Almost 2,000 in the CRJ and 1,000 of PIC (don't know what the PIC was in). He had been F/E on C-5 galaxies and was still active in the Air Guard as a "training and education manager." The CA had 9,500 hours and was a check airman. The CA had just started his 11th year with the company.
That makes it even worse, Baradium. A 9500 hour check airman, and a 3500 hour FO acting like a couple young punk kids. Completely complacent to the point of distraction. Then after they come to a stop, the Capt is on the phone to the CP and ALPA rep while the CVR is still rolling. Never mind the 32 other souls in the back... someone will see to them, i'm sure.
These guys were sure setting the standard, weren't they?
Let me put it a different way:
"Hello ALPA? This is Captain Sullenberger. Yeah, I'm down in the middle of the Hudson River. What do you think I should do now?"
RC
Yeah, it is worse. They did pretty much everything wrong on this flight. It's a miracle that no one was killed. I'm not sure who he called. Sounded to me like he called dispatch, not the alpa rep... either way, it was definately not the time to do it.
