Stephen - Call me scary if you want, no skin off my nose.
But, perhaps contrary to your beliefs, there has been a lot of study and research into the most effective way to ensure airline safety. Their, along with my, view is that penal action on the Pilot In Command does not enhance safety. Instead, it can work against it.
The "culture" of an airline is FAR more important in ensuring safety. Take a look at what CASA is pushing at the moment. There is an enormous push to ensure safe practices, under a safety management system. This is the latest and greatest in safety systems. You will find many things such as ensuring that everyone, FROM THE CEO DOWN is responsible for safety, including the statement by the former head of CASA that if an airline in Australia has a crash, CASA will be out to get the CEO, not just the crew involved.
You will perhaps note, however, that criminal prosecution of the pilot of the flight is NOT in the system, and the SAFEST countries in the world use this concept. Additionally, they PROHIBIT the use of a Cockpit Voice Recorder to be used as evidence in a criminal court. Why? Because it is far more important that the pilots are allowed to speak freely, knowing that their every word is not going to be analysed.
You are, unfortunately, falling for the trap that many uninitiated do - that prosecution and the threat of jail is an adequate deterrent. As you will see, it is not, and even the police acknowledge this. You are also looking at this situation from a purely emotional view - someone must pay. It is essential we do not fall for this trap, and we use RESEARCHED techniques for improving safety. Sure, we can put a pilot in jail, for life if you will. That will stop one pilot flying again, and will make the masses, on the surface, happy. The far reaching consequences, however, of making pilots reluctant to speak up for fear of criminal proceedings is far more damaging to safety. Also, how is this fixing the problem? If one pilot can do it under the existing system, and he was not detected and retrained earlier on, whats to say there won't be more?
My view comes from university research into safety systems. I am happy to entertain your views of "its just the pilots fault because he pressed the button", if you can give me researched, qualified opinion where such action has enhanced safety.
I have no problem with the aviation authorities suspending or cancelling his licence after investigation. Additionally, I will accept criminal prosecution where it is warranted. I will, however, only wear this after a FULL and THOROUGH investigation into the entire airline's safety and training system, showing that the pilot was acting in a manner that the system would find absurd... something that was not accomplished.
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