MountainBear raised an interesting view with “the difference between active and passive monitoring”.
I had not previously considered this idea; I am not sure what the difference between them is.
However, thinking about it, together with the debate on SOPs, then perhaps active monitoring represents the ‘by rote’ calls required by SOP – standard crosschecks.
Passive monitoring represents the general overview and comparison required in all operations.
Or vice versa???
I don't know about Passive Monitoring but there is one major Australian international airline SOP that exhorts its first officers to "assist" the captain while he is PF, by more or less continually talking during the progress of an instrument approach. The policy is called Soft Monitoring and Hard Monitoring
Such natter by the first officer as "I got the runway coming into in sight a bit to your left, Jack - bring it around a bit more -that's the idea. OK have you got it visual yet? OK get it down now and bring it back a bit further Jack"...etc ad nauseum.
The airline calls it "Soft" monitoring. An example of "Hard" monitoring" would be something urgent like "Christ Almighty! Go-Around Jack..."
I can only assume if the first officer's name was also Jack, the captain could reply by saying "Fkcuk you Jack - I'm OK"
