Increasing SOP Compliance

In the era where increased incidents and accidents are attributed to flight crew non-adherence to procedures, what can be done to ensure increased SOP compliance?

Standard Operating Procedures(SOP) are a critical component in flight operations and in improving the flight safety. They are intended as a guard against operational errors and help elevate crew performance leading to safe operation of a flight.

AIRCRAFT GO-AROUND MANEUVER

One question that is frequently asked in aviation circles about piloting issue is as to why a go-around was not carried out when the approach was unstable.

 Looking at the data that is out there, the stats point out that only 2-3% of the unstabilised approaches end in a go-around.Well then, the questions that are being asked about go-arounds seem justified and needs an in-depth look at various facets as to why it is so.

What is it that makes a well trained and proficient crew shy away from conducting a go-around on the approach when it is required so??

TURBULENCE AND SEAT BELTS SIGNS

Turbulence is the reason for inflight injuries of crew and passengers. Turbulence is defined as follows :

Light turbulence---  Light turbulence - briefly causes slight, erratic changes in altitude and/or attitude, slight strain against seat belts, little or no diffuculty in walking, service may be conducted.

TAIL STRIKE ON TAKEOFF

A tail strike is deemed to have occurred when the tail of an aircraft touches the runway during takeoff or landing. Long aircraft are more prone to this and this would result in significant structural damage to the aircraft and jeopardise the safety of the flight.Statistically, there are more tail strikes during landing than at takeoff.(Airbus)

RUSH SYNDROME

In this modern age, life is full of hectic activity and managing time efficiently is become a necessity. As pilots, whether in general aviation or in airline environment, we are subject to pressures of various sort. One of them I would like to deal with in this post, is about the pre-flight rush, which all of us are subjected to while carrying our flight activity.

BIRD STRIKE AVOIDANCE DURING TAKEOFF AND FINAL APPROACH PHASE

The Federal Aviation Administration estimates the bird strike problem costs US aviation 400 million dollars annually and has resulted in over 219 worldwide deaths since 1988. In the United Kingdom, the Central Science Laboratory estimates that, worldwide, the cost of birdstrikes to airlines is around US$1.2 billion annually. This cost includes direct repair cost and lost revenue opportunities while the damaged aircraft is out of service.(Wikipedia)

MODIFICATION OF CHECKLIST AND PROCEDURES BY AN AIRLINE

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.

INADEQUACY IN TRAINING

B787Cockpit

Airline training is always a focal point in the aviation industry and the thrust should be to deliver training that surpasses well over the bare minimum regulatory requirement. More often than not, lack of training or inadequate training is a common contributor in incidents and accidents.