As a sequel to the Misplaced Priorities post, let's delve at the work pressures one is subjected to as crew during pre-flight phase.
Distractions and Interruptions abound during pre-flight stage from the time crew report to airport for briefing to the completion of pre-flight checks, and are ready to proceed on their way to the destination.
It could be due to flight planning and briefing issues starting at the reporting,or a ground personnel trying to confirm/ reconfirm the boarding procedure and interrupting your flow and make you start all over again.
Also the trooping in and out of ground personnel into the cockpit during pre-flight stage to address various issues such as last minute change in passenger load requiring amendment, engineering staff filling in tech log and signing out the aircraft, etc. contributes in denting the crew procedural flow,thereby having the crew to re-run the whole checklist or the activity under progress, and ensure safety is upheld.However, precious time is lost and this will affect the crew in how they will manage the rest of the time and put them under tremendous pressure.
On time performance pressures from operator add up to contribute to haste by the crew.Also, in the current economic situation, it is prudent to increase aircraft utilisation, and hence the aircraft rotations being tightly packed, any delay in arrival does not accord crew enough time in cockpit for preparation for departure as the operator is keen to regain the lost time and minimise departure delay.
It is prudent that the operator adopts a sterile cockpit concept on ground to enable the crew complete formalities without interruption and sensitize other stakeholders about it.
Do you face similar situations in your operations?? How do you cope with this?? Does your operator define minimum time required for crew to carryout pre-flight preparation??
Kindly send in our comments.
Most operators, indeed, insist that crew arrive at the aircraft sufficiently in advance to complete the pre-flight preparation in an unhurried manner. Movement of personnel in and out of the cockpit, while the crew is carrying out pre-flight preparation is of grave concern. Engineers are seen to reset computers and CBs in the cockpit or attempt fault analysis through CFDS. Commercial staffs visit the cockpit to advise the crew about special loads/ NOTOC, as well as update them about the progress of the boarding and anticipated delays. When a maintenance action is carried out using cockpit controls and CBs, during a transit halt, the crew is required to initiate a full cockpit scan after all maintenance activities are completed. How often have you witnessed the crew attempting transit scans after rectification? Is an external walk around mandated, after maintenance action is completed where access panels have been opened or safety pins installed to isolate a system? Crew often truncates the checklist procedures to minimise the time for pre-flight preparation and continue where they left off, after an interruption. Expeditious departures are lauded and delays are frowned upon. Procedures and SOPs are often the victims.
ReplyDeleteMost operators, indeed, insist that crew arrive at the aircraft sufficiently in advance to complete the pre-flight preparation in an unhurried manner. Movement of personnel in and out of the cockpit, while the crew is carrying out pre-flight preparation is of grave concern. Engineers are seen to reset computers and CBs in the cockpit or attempt fault analysis through CFDS. Commercial staffs visit the cockpit to advise the crew about special loads/ NOTOC, as well as update them about the progress of the boarding and anticipated delays. When a maintenance action is carried out using cockpit controls and CBs, during a transit halt, the crew is required to initiate a full cockpit scan after all maintenance activities are completed. How often have you witnessed the crew attempting transit scans after rectification? Is an external walk around mandated, after maintenance action is completed where access panels have been opened or safety pins installed to isolate a system? Crew often truncates the checklist procedures to minimise the time for pre-flight preparation and continue where they left off, after an interruption. Expeditious departures are lauded and delays are frowned upon. Procedures and SOPs are often the victims.
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