Additional to this we talk about the "threats" for arrival. This may include any unusual weather, other traffic, Notams and crew capabilities.
During the brief on threats we would also talk about how we the crew are feeling, has it been a long day or is it late at night etc and if there was any forecast turbulence or the possibilty of unforecast turbulence.
Let me see. Have I got this right? "Threats". A threat is someone poking a gun in my face. Or holding a knife to my throat. Them's "threats" in most average person's minds.
To have a group hug top of descent on the flight deck and discuss how tired you feel because of a night out on the tiles then say "that's a threat" so I better do the landing because as a monitoring pilot I need to be wide awake to counter the next "threat".
Discuss the `crew capabilities` - what the hell is that supposed to mean? My instrument rating has six months to go and your instrument rating is due for renewal next week. Jeez, Dude - that's a real threat because you are nearly out of currency so I'd better do the STAR but you can do the landing.
Now about this possibility of unforecast turbulence. We have to manage that threat carefully so this is how we mitigate it. Grab the synoptic chart before top of descent and check those isobars and iotachs and the station model plots for Benalla, the Dandenongs and Baccus. That should give us a clue on un-forecast turbulence for landing 34 at Melbourne. Now in case we hit this threat of unforecast turbulence make sure you follow me on the controls up until touch down. The other threat is the automatic speed brakes on touch down. It is possible to have an unknown defect in the automatic wiffle valve that operates the speed brake electronics. Saw one years ago. You will mitigate that threat by operating the speed brakes manually if the buggers don't come up.
Listen here because the next threat is the PAPI on 34. Standby for a go-around on short final in case the PAPI fails and we have to divert to a PAPI airport. We will mitigate that threat by checking on the weather at the alternates and the current situation on standby power for the PAPI at those alternates. You never know with PAPI's - they work by electricity and you know how reliable electricity is when the ground is wet. So let's brief on the threat of a crook PAPI. Now the next "threat" is ATC the bastards. They'll dob you for a wrong read back so I read on Pprune the other day. Make sure you get the right read back Dude and I'll get my mini recorder going to back you up. Any questions?
Yes Skipper - you forgot the "threat" of Pprune where you read so much silly crap about TEM every night you fall asleep at the computer. And that's why you get so tired while flying and make all the mistakes you have to mitigate for..
