Sheppey's original question shows some lateral thought in questioning whether what has become "normalised" due to the Loco movement has compromised safety in any way.
I am surprised that the tone of some of the responses appears to be more indicative of demonstrating "big cahoonas" rather professionals looking at a question on safety, objectively.
Many an error made at the pre-flight stage does not come around and bite one's bum until later. e.g. load-sheet error, take-off data calculations, wx forecast change, new notam, error in programming FMC etc. Hands up anyone who can say that they have never made an error in any of the above?
The basic principle of CRM is to avoid single - point failures (human error) becoming consequential, by ensuring that all safety critical activities are independently cross - checked / monitored by another. Personal experience indicates that it is this cross - checking that goes out the window when things are rushed. Sure, everything gets done - but cross-checked??? I couldn't help but smile when the first response to Sheppey was from a flight attendant who "would never describe our flight deck crew as being flat out" as the pilots have different tasks.
The pre-flight stage is high risk in light of the importance placed on "on time performance" by many (most?) companies. Anything that places a tight fixed time limit on, without being too sensationalistic, safety critical activities deserves to be at least open to questioning.
Fly safe
PJ
Last edited by Propjet88; 11th July 2012 at 01:03.