Every aircraft manufacturer ensures that checklists and
procedures are promulgated for each aircraft type to be followed based on the
operating philosophy envisaged, keeping the primary aim of ensuring safety in
operation.
The challenge faced by the airlines in following the
manufacturer checklists and procedures is the various fleets in the airline,
standardization amongst fleets, for instance, which if not addressed could lead
to degrading the safety of operation.
Many airlines tend to customize the checklists and
procedures to meet certain specific operational criteria, standardizing across
fleets, environment and not forgetting the prevailing company culture. This is
mainly done to avoid pitfalls and traps envisaged due to above mentioned
reasons.
Checklists and procedures are too often work in progress, as
they are churned out by manufacturer, modified by the airline, and practiced by
the pilots online. Greatest contribution in this chain would be the feedback of
the operating crew in ensuring that what is devised can practically be complied
with. Any traps and pitfalls arising out of the amendments are reviewed to
ensure that prime objective of effectivity of checklist to ensure safety is not
compromised. Airline needs to inculcate a culture of obtaining effective
feedback on its checklist and procedures continually, to weed out latent traps
that may be lying in wait.
It would be interesting to hear about various practices by
organisations in dealing with this and your views. Drop in a comment and let us
know.
This is so true. At NWA they were very open to feedback. But my new airline... not at all. I've been told, "There is nothing you can say that we don't already know." And... "You're in my world now." And, "You should drink more beer."
ReplyDeleteAnd if you do speak out, you get line checked.
But for everyone... Yes, operational input is essential. When you're doing... you know if it's working.
Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for the comment. Checklist and procedures are work in progress and evaluated on continuos basis based on feedback from line.
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