Having read several official accident reports and their transcripts in almost all I see a common factor of poor crew communications. Conversely in successfully averted incidents it appears high standard and professional communications are a common factor.
Why would flight crew fail to professionally communicate for several minutes during these incidents?
Are these some factors?
- Were CVRs routinely analyzed by airlines for job performance rating/CRM. If so then is there pressure to not say something dumb/self incriminating lest it affect job prospects.
- Is there a need for increased CVR monitoring, analysis and feedback.
- Personality conflict and ego's.
- Focus on overly sterile cockpit to the point of affecting crew performance.
- Sloppy adherence to SOP.
- Airline culture: standards inherited from top down or poorly enforced.
- Training
- Regulation