Safely Controlling the Flight From Start to Finish
Posted by Jeffrey on March 21st, 2009
I grew up a swimmer. Since I was seven years old, swimming was all I knew. I had a knack for it. My upper body was long and this provided me with a lot of power as I got stronger. I had some good coaches through the years, and they always emphasized long, efficient strokes that optimized the effort spent.
I remember one particular relay race where I was the anchor. We were a bit behind when I got my start but I wasn’t worried. I loved to race. Before I knew it, I was in the water swimming. I knew what I had to do so I just swam my race. Slowly I made ground on the other swimmers and eventually passed them and won. When I got back to the bleachers, my coach was all red faced from excitement and he came up to me and said, “Jeff! Can you at least look like your going fast!” It was a terrific compliment and I would always remember it.
You see, sometimes slowing down actually makes you go faster! If you flail your arms about as fast as you can, you really end up using too much energy and not going anywhere…at all. Taking it slow, being efficient and under control though will move you along faster than you think.
So, you are probably asking, what does this have to do with flying?
Well recently, I’ve noticed an increasing trend in the environment with which I work, and I find it a little disturbing.
The economics of today’s airline industry has forced carriers to implement “creative inventory management plans” that are intended to maximize revenues without incurring additional expenses. Sound familiar? As a result, flight crews are being tasked with operating on these “creative schedules” which result from these programs. While it is important to work to maintain schedule integrity, I always stress to my crews that above all else we must remember that operational safety is our top priority…even above being “on-time.”
Pressures imposed by airline’s published schedules and on-time requirements, should be a reminder to us captains to efficiently prioritize and manage the multitude of flight crew tasks that precede a flight. We must ensure that we operate at a comfortable pace and within our crews capabilities. As captains (and first officers), we must recognize and eliminate task saturation.
Captains must reinforce the concept that safety must never be compromised in order to meet a schedule. During my crew briefing, I explain that we will do our best to be on-time…but…if events, beyond our control happen, then we accept it and move on. I never want a crew member to do something that they are uncomfortable with or compromises a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR).
Managing Efficiently by Slowing Down
So, like my swimming analogy above, it is possible to manage tasks at a normal, comfortable pace and continue to operate efficiently. Time management and task prioritizing are skills that can be learned and should be exercised by the entire crew. One of the best ways to do this, is to recognize that you are being rushed or you be aware that you don’t remember the last thing you said or did, and STOP! Look around! Relax! Regroup! Then, when everything looks like it should, move on.
Increasing the pace of pre-flight duties to meet a schedule should not be necessary if the entire crew has a plan, and ultimately follows the lead of the captain. Typically, calm captain, calm crew. Though crews should work efficiently to minimize delays and run on-time, managing delays is most often beyond the control of the flight crew. So why stress it? If you are late…you are late! Try harder the next time.
And realize, sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things are going to go against you…and you won’t be able to do a thing about it. So relax. — I have found that once you are behind, you will probably stay behind until you have a long break or you get to the overnight. So why push it? Believe it or not, this is exactly the time to slow down, look around, and double-check that EVERYTHING is done and you are right were you are suppose to be.
To Your Flying Success…
Jeffrey
P.S. Here are a few books I’d like to recommend. Now I’m not big on negative things, but I do feel that reviewing airline accidents are essential to becoming a good captain. Read a few of the accident reports and you will see a trend in most of them. Guess what it is? See you next time!
Extra Reading:
- Avoiding Common Pilot Errors – This important work interprets — from the controller’s perspective — mistakes pilots frequently make when operating in controlled airspace.
- The Pilot’s Burden: Flight Safety and the Roots of Pilot Error – Technology has progressed but human factors have not. This book concentrates on reducing demands on pilots to reduce the chances for human error.
- Aircraft Safety – Taken from the richest source of flying information – exhaustive flight safety investigations – this updated book examines more than 40 accidents.
Jeffrey is a captain at a regional airline and flies the CRJ200, CRJ700, and the CRJ900. He has over 4000 hrs of flying experience in many different airplanes and is a Gold Seal flight instructor to his credit. He has recently written “The CRJ200 Quicknote Study Guide” that simplies the systems of the CRJ200 into a downloadable eBook. Click here to get your copy today!
March 21st, 2009 at 9:21 pm
As John King said: “there’s no problem you can’t make worse by going too fast.” Of course, John was speaking about rushing about in a single engine failure, but the accident chain starts with several small factors adding up. Small factors that a cool, level-headed flight crew are more likely to catch, and less likely to create.
You are absolutely right about the captain setting the tone. But the first officer (and the flight attendants) can make a difference. I’ve flown with a few captains who were flustered over delays, but I’ve noticed that if myself or the flight attendant exude a sense of calm, it tends to affect everyone around us including other crew members and passengers.