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The Waitt Intitute for Discovery's Search for Amelia Earhart

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Operator Errors

Oversights by a tired crew cause potentially dangerous situations…

SUNDAY, 03.22.09

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(R-L) Institute President Ted Waitt discusses deck procedures with Harbor Branch (HBOI) Project Manager/Science Mission Director Lee Frey and Woods Hole (WHOI) Operations Team Lead Greg Packard.

0747: From Ted Waitt Regarding Lee Frey Dispatch
 It looks like operator error in both cases, potentially. Do we have any stats on operator error vs. mechanical failure as to unsuccessful missions? At least the false dive wasn’t a whole wasted mission, but surely dangerous. Seems that cut cable coulda been caught. Failure to connect the ground sounds like operator error to me. I know it’s a sensitive topic, but be good to have the data. When we go back to Hydroid, they will be pointing fingers at people and when we go to Woods Hole, they’ll be pointing at equipment. Need the data either way.