Ethnic Culture on Flight decks -Arrogance or Stupidity
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Ethnic Culture on Flight decks -Arrogance or Stupidity
A recent seemingly minor event had me thinking about the vagaries of cockpit etiquette where ethnic culture becomes a tricky issue. The crew concerned were of differing nationalities. Both were tired after several night sectors and during the cruise in the early hours of the morning, the first officer was unable to stifle a yawn.
The captain erupted, demanding the first officer apologize for yawning. In the captain's culture, yawning in front of a senior ranking person was inexcusable. Of course the captain was quite arrogant and the first officer objected strongly to the accusation he was being disrespectful.
On another occasion, two pilots under training for commands complained to their superiors that their class-room instructor had shown disrespect for their ethnic culture because he had placed some briefing notes on the desk for them to pick up, rather than physically offering the notes to each person personally by hand.
In each case, the yawning first officer and the ground instructor were Westerners not versed in the cultures of the aggrieved. Clearly it is difficult for crew members to remember every minor facet of culture that could offend on the flight deck. After all, all over the world it is common practice to have foreign captains operating with local first officers and vice versa. Ethnic culture can become a potential minefield for all concerned and it doesn't take much for prejudices to occur. For many, their culture transcends common-sense flight safety, as we have seen in several tragic accidents.
A part way solution may be in the induction phase of a new pilot joining an airline. That includes cabin crew as well as flight deck crew. Newcomers could be briefed on local cultural mores that could show up on flight decks. But it goes both ways and this must be understood by management.
It is quite ridiculous and unacceptable in flight safety terms to claim that a yawn from fatigue is disrespectful. I wonder how many more of these irritants occur on airline flight decks under the guise of ethnic culture but which in reality are excuses for arrogance and stupidity?
The captain erupted, demanding the first officer apologize for yawning. In the captain's culture, yawning in front of a senior ranking person was inexcusable. Of course the captain was quite arrogant and the first officer objected strongly to the accusation he was being disrespectful.
On another occasion, two pilots under training for commands complained to their superiors that their class-room instructor had shown disrespect for their ethnic culture because he had placed some briefing notes on the desk for them to pick up, rather than physically offering the notes to each person personally by hand.
In each case, the yawning first officer and the ground instructor were Westerners not versed in the cultures of the aggrieved. Clearly it is difficult for crew members to remember every minor facet of culture that could offend on the flight deck. After all, all over the world it is common practice to have foreign captains operating with local first officers and vice versa. Ethnic culture can become a potential minefield for all concerned and it doesn't take much for prejudices to occur. For many, their culture transcends common-sense flight safety, as we have seen in several tragic accidents.
A part way solution may be in the induction phase of a new pilot joining an airline. That includes cabin crew as well as flight deck crew. Newcomers could be briefed on local cultural mores that could show up on flight decks. But it goes both ways and this must be understood by management.
It is quite ridiculous and unacceptable in flight safety terms to claim that a yawn from fatigue is disrespectful. I wonder how many more of these irritants occur on airline flight decks under the guise of ethnic culture but which in reality are excuses for arrogance and stupidity?
Last edited by Tee Emm; 27th Dec 2014 at 11:48.
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Ethnic Culture on Flight decks -Arrogance or Stupidity
I once listened patiently to a gentleman who was complaining about foreigners coming to his country and taking all the good things...before he calmed down and remembered that I am an economic migrant in the sense that I am home-based away from my homeland. He also insures and services his car over the border because it's cheaper.
Not quite cultural but another example of how friction can be generated internationally!
Not quite cultural but another example of how friction can be generated internationally!
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People are quick enough to make us westerners adopt and proclaim that we are the ignorant ones. But it works both ways. People from other cultures need to realise some things are not acceptable. My pet hate is hockling in public sinks. ITs not acceptable in my western culture but not once have I seen anyone challenge those (apart from me) of a different culture for doing.
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What is hockling? Never heard of it.
By the way, instead of yawning, the F/O should have farted, and murdered his wife and daughter, because the captain would have considered it far more socially acceptable. The absurdities of social traditions will continue until the rational majority challenge the illogic bigots.
By the way, instead of yawning, the F/O should have farted, and murdered his wife and daughter, because the captain would have considered it far more socially acceptable. The absurdities of social traditions will continue until the rational majority challenge the illogic bigots.
