Status of Flight Crew during an investigation?

[Fugazi1000]

A question from SLF.


Although it has raised my curiosity, I do not want to refer specifically to the BA038 incident, but I do wonder what happens to the flight status of an aircrew during an investigation of an incident and/or accident? Sometimes the reports can take a very long time to be published.

If preliminary findings are such that the crew does not appear to be at fault, can they resume flying immediately? Do they need assessment in simulators or medical approval?

Thx.

[redout]

Although I cannot say for sure, common practice in most jobs where an investigation into such matters is undertook usually results in the employee being put on paid leave or confined to a desk. But as you rightly said "Sometimes the reports can take a very long time to be published" I am sure that airlines would want to get the pilots back flying within a reasonable timeframe. Obviously certain circumstances warrant a bigger timetrame than others.

[Zorst]

Accident investigation authorities have no authority over flight crew qualification to operate.

Licensing authorities (regulators) give people licenses and ratings.

Aircraft operators employ people to fly their aircraft.

In truly extreme cases, AIBs will talk to licensing authorities but it's almost unheard of for the latter to take action.

It's all too common to see flight crew summarily sacked before any AIB report is published (it happens routinely in the UK and serves to demonstrate how pointless years of CRM instruction have been, given that those doing the sacking have attended countless courses but still can't see the wood for the trees - IMHO this points to the big hole in Jim Reason's model but, heigh-ho, he's made a mint out of it so who am I to complain that it's tosh).

This almost invariably serves only to indicate, to the cognoscenti, that management are covering their own weaknesses and shortcomings.

[CI300]

The airline will do its own investigation along side any external investigation.

Depending on the extent of the incident, Crew tend to be stood down to assist in the investigation.
Once they have assisted and any (if) coaching is required, they are back on line with a few extra skills or learnings to take with them.
It can be a postive outcome! At least thats how I do it.

[HZ123]

On the logic applied by us all the down side of this is you could remain on assist until the investigation is concluded.

[Fugazi1000]

Thanks for the responses and apologies for the delay (I lost the thread as it was moved!)

Obviously it's not so clear cut as I had assumed. I guess some get lucky if they have an understanding management, and others don't. :rolleyes: