PMDG Simulations Comments on the loss of MH 370

[rsrandazzo 6,353]

Captains,

 

As you are no doubt aware, the whole world is awaiting some explanation as to the fate of MH370, a Boeing 777-200ER registered 9M-MRO that went missing a week ago.

 

PMDG Simulations has a long standing policy that we do not wish to host discussions of aircraft accidents in our forum.  I wish to remind everyone of this policy and ask that you please respect it.

 

In this regard, I am going to take the unusual step of commenting directly on one aspect of this event:  Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was in command of MH370 at the time of it's disappearance.  Captain Shah was well known to many in the flight simulation community because he had developed an online presence in which he dedicated many hours of his time to promoting the enjoyment of flying generally, and flight simulation specifically.

 

In a manner of speaking, our community appears to have lost one of our own by virtue of the fact that he was also an accomplished 777 captain flying for a well respected airline.

 

There has been some conjecture in various locations around the internet as to what Captain Shah's relationship with PMDG might have been.  Some have posited that since he is a flight simulation enthusiast and a 777 captain, he must therefor have been involved in the development and/or testing of the PMDG 777-200LR/F product line.

 

Aside from being a PMDG customer, Captain Shah had no relationship with PMDG Simulations.

 

Currently there are significant questions and mystery surrounding the circumstances of MH 370.  As is always the case when something cannot be explained, there are many folks attempting to explain the event to the public using theories, guesswork and good, old-fashioned imagination.  Some of these individuals are indeed experts attempting to apply reasoned thought process to the event in order to help the public understand what happened.  Still others are working with outdated expertise, or lack of expertise in the type of flying involved, the aircraft involved or the technology involved.

 

Some of these commentators have focused on Captain Shah's love of the flight simulation hobby as a suggestion that he may somehow have played a role in the disappearance of MH 370.  Such wild conjecture is not only insulting to those of us who wear or have worn the stripes of a captain, but has the potential to be damaging to the flight simulation hobby.

 

I ask that each of us keep this in mind as this matter plays out.  Whether you knew Captain Shah or only learned his name last week, please keep him, his crew and their passengers in your thoughts as we look forward to this mystery being unraveled.