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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-10-31
CONTENTS
[01] HELIOS - PILOTS
[01] HELIOS - PILOTS
Chief captain of the former Helios air company, today ajet, Yanko
Stoimenov, questioned the complaints expressed by four Helios copilots
regarding the operating abilities of Hans Juergen Mertens, captain of
the fatal Helios Boeing 737 300, that crashed in August 2005 near
Athens, killing all 121 on board.
In his testimony today before the Commission of Inquiry into the causes
of the ``Helios`` air crash, Stoimenov said that the four copilots have
had no evidence that the aircrafts safety was in danger, or that
Mertens did not comply with the standard operating procedures of the
aircraft (SOP).
``In order to assess the abilities of a captain, one has to be an
expert. No one of those copilots had been an expert, or had any long
experience, Stoimenov told the Commission.
He added that he had located no problems regarding Mertens execution of
his duties, but said that he had drawn his attention to various aspects
regarding his behavior and his inability to inspire team work among the
crew.
Stoimenov said that the company had taken into consideration the
complaints by four copilots regarding Mertens behavior, but said that
the company had taken measures and the problems had been solved.
During todays hearing Stoimenov said that copilot of the fatal
``Helios`` Boeing Pampos Charalambous was not considered, by the
``Helios`` company, able to attend a training to become a captain, due
to a series of weaknesses.
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