The ping-pong between Poland and Russia continues. After Poland has published its version of events in a report meant to be a correction of an earlier Russian report, just bone day later the Russians countered by publishing transcripts of communication that should counter the Polish claims.

From Polski Radio DLA Zagranicy, 19-01-2011:
From Moscow News, 19-01-2011:

Something tells me this tie-break will last longer than the whole match before. While both governments seem to demonstrate an interest to move closer together, I wonder iof the mutual animosities really have a chance to be overcome within the next 1 or 2 generations. With strong nationalist movements blossoming in both countries, I doubt it.

yay for Skybird.:yeah: I can't believe that he posted something what slightly ruins his previous theory concerning the cockpit "pressure" as the only factor responsible for the crash. On the very bottom of this page you can find 3 pdfs with the communication recordings. Unfortunately there is only a version in russian. This however doesn't change the fact that the pilots disregarded bad weather conditions. The only new element in this story is related to what Polish experts have found on the voice recorder- after crossing 100 meters Polish pilots almost immediately attempted to cancel the descent and go around but they failed. For now I cannot provide any english versions of this story, the Polish report is supposed to be ready in February. There are several explanations concerning their failure while trying to go up, some being identical to what MAK has said about the level of pilot's experience- as it was not sufficient.

I'm actually surprised that the flight crew of the president's plane was inexperienced. Isn't that usually a job only experienced pilots get.:hmmm:

yeah. Flying experience according to MAK's report:
Pilot: 3400 hours (530h as a PiC of Tu-154)
Co-pilot: 1700h (198 as a Co-pilot)
Navigator: 1060h (59 as a navigator)

e.g. MAK's experts had 14 000 hours... ofc they were civilian pilots.
MAK blamed the PiC for doing a mistake while trying to pull up. It is considered that he had no experience in disengaging the auto-pilot using the control column. On the other hand Polish experts claimed that he did it correctly. MAK also stated, and this is beyond a doubt, that the crew was not aware of the fact that while landing on a airfield without ILS system, the button "quick switch-off" (ok, this is a quotation from the report, this button simply sets the engines to 100% and disengages the vertical auto-pilot) will not work. It was recorded that the crew wanted to use it if they didn't see the runway. That is why (probably) they lost those crucial seconds before they disengaged the AP and manually set throttles to full power .

The whole issue was politicised from the start.

Smolensk was chosen as it is the closest airport to Katyn even though it was a largely unused and practically abandoned airbase.

The reason was that Kazynski would of kicked up a fuss if another further away airport had been used and complained of a conspiracy.

Basically mistakes were made on both sides. The controller couldn't tell the plane not to land, the order from Moscow arrived too late, and I wouldn't be surprised if given the Georgia example that Kazynski had put pressure to land regardless.

As for the hours each pilot had they do seem low for the type of plane they were flying.

Ya know Kranz this isn't some Russian conspiracy.

yup, coz it's a Polish conspiracy to say that's the Russians' fault.

The Russians could have won much more by showing the control tower staff's work in their report. But they wanted to have their hands completely clean, at least for the international public opinion. If you read the pdfs, or at least you are familiar with the general atmosphere in the tower you should know that their hands are not clean.
Ok, I wanted to avoid posting some details from blogs which question many so-called "facts" from the MAK's report just not to be accused of spreading the anti-russian propaganda and cool down the atmosphere here but that's how I got paid. People telling me what it was NOT before I even wrote anything.

I'm not saying it is a Polish conspiracy either, however to be fair to the Russians wherever anything with the Kazyskis is involved it is like walking on eggshells.

For me, reason of this catastrophe is clear and simple. This was sick self-confidence, idleness, and not much more than one stupid decission. Why, why? Why I'm so cruel for politicians, or maybe for the crew? Airport base in Smoleńsk is not so new, and probably for this reason, theoretically, was deleted, unfortunately, not completely. So this is "Russians fault", that the Smoleńsk airport was choosen by polish delegation. Why the polish politicians decided to choose airport in Smoleńsk? Because this airport was most comfortable for them. This is clear; When you [safely:)] exit the plane, you must be nearly on place. Don't waste to much time on the limo. What for! Hurry, faster, this can be done somehow - thats they thinkered - always the same old litany. 21 years of capitalism, and always the same. Miserable end. Shame. If you know something more about the genesis of the socialism and it's most radical form - communism, and situation in Poland after second WW, then you shall understand everything.

This was enough, when wheather in Smoleńsk turned into extremely bad, only for 1,5, or 3 hours? Strange? Good subject for the great debate between smart peoples about eternal life. Noooo! Faster, faster! Greatest shame from all shames, to be late on ceremony. In all Russia, Smoleńsk was the only one functional base after all:) Is this was impossible, to start the flight erlier?

Fog was very heavy. Plane was not small. Airport was not so big. I suppose, that the intentionally assorted polish crew, in the end, when everything else what could be done - was done, then, mild crew was forced to fly extremely low for spotting something more than nothing! Pilot had about 85% to 98% chances for successfull crush in that situation. A quite large plane, many peoples on board. Who said the first and most important word? Secret! No matter, because the last word had the main pilot, captain of the plane, and for the God sake, he decided to land! What for? Maybe for the glory of: polish ex - president, "political elite", Poland, or maybe for himself? Where is this glory now? There, where is the true, but liar will never be capable to walk in the true glory.

Oy
.

Let the poor guys rest in peace already.

when I saw that the thread appeared on the first page I though: Skybird has more scum to share with. Fortunately I was wrong.

Precisely.