#gpws

AIR FRANCE APPARENTLY JUST NEARLY DROVE A TRIPLE-SEVEN FULL OF PEOPLE INTO ONE. I MEAN, ON THE ONE HAND, IT'S A SHINING EXAMPLE OF GPWS DOING ITS THING AND PREVENTING A CFIT, BUT ON THE OTHER YOU KIND OF HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT THE TRAINING PROTOCOLS.

ACRONYMS, DARLING.

RIGHT, RIGHT. "GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEM" IS THE THING THAT GOES "WOOP WOOP PULL UP" OR "TOO LOW TERRAIN" IN THE LAST COUPLE OF SECONDS BEFORE AN AIR CRASH INVESTIGATION EPISODE GOES FROM "REENACTMENT" TO "ANALYSIS." USED TO JUST RUN OFF A RADAR ALTIMETER THAT'S LOOKING AT THE GROUND THE WHOLE TIME AND FIGURING OUT HOW FAR AWAY IT IS. THESE DAYS IT'S ALL EXTRA SMART AND TALKS TO SATELLITES AND IS KNOWN AS "ENHANCED GROUND PROXIMITY WARNING SYSTEM." AND "CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN" IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.

AS OPPOSED TO uNCONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO TERRAIN. WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOu LOSE ALL YOuR FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEMS. OR KEY AIRCRAFT PARTS SuCH AS THE WINGS OR TAIL.

ANYWAY, LOOKS LIKE THE AIR FRANCE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO AVOID WEATHER, WHICH, OKAY, THAT'S A THING, BUT GETTING CLOSE ENOUGH TO MOUNT FUCKING CAMEROON THAT YOU SET OFF THE GPWS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

HERE'S WHAT THEY SAID IN THE RELEASE: Pending the results of the internal investigation, several precautionary measures have been implemented by the company: - Additional information transmitted to the crew on the specifics of the land around Douala - The crew of this flight receives pedagogical, managerial and medical support.

WHICH BASICALLY MEANS THEY GET TORN SHINY NEW ASSHOLES. AND REMINDED "HEY, CHECK IT OUT, THERE'S A BIG-ASS FUCKING VOLCANO RIGHT THERE, EXACTLY WHERE IT'S BEEN FOR ZILLIONS OF YEARS, NEXT TIME REMEMBER THAT PART."