Redford Theatre To Screen Michigan-Made 'Pilot Error,' The Tale Of Downed Air France Flight 447

DETROIT (WWJ) -- A film shot entirely on location in Ann Arbor, the campus of Eastern Michigan University and Willow Run Airport premiers Friday at the Redford Theatre in Detroit.

"Pilot Error," by Joe Anderson and Roger Rapoport, is inspired by the true story of the 22-month disappearance of a French jet on a flight from South America to Paris.

Bill Rhodes, a pilot and consultant on the film, talked about the film's core message.

"It really brings to light the public's understanding of how automated aircraft are at this point and if we should fall back more on stick and rudder skills and actual flying, training, more than just programming the flight management system and using the automation to fly the aircraft," Rhodes said.

The film chronicles the story of Air France flight 447, which crashed in the Atlantic Ocean on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Paris in 2009, killing all 228 people aboard the aircraft.

"The whole problem with the Air France 447 flight is that they where on autopilot, they were on cruise, everything was wonderful and when things went south for them it was a recognition of what happened and how long it took them to recognize and react properly," Rhodes said. "By the time the captain got back on the flight deck, it was too late to correct the problem at that point."

The film will be screened on Friday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the Redford Theatre's website HERE.