Don't Be Pressured by Pax!

[Hell Man]

16 July 2010


New cockpit recordings from the Polish presidential plane that crashed near Smolensk on April 10 indicate that the pilots were pressured into landing despite poor weather conditions, Interfax reported Thursday.
“If I don’t land, he will kill me,” read a cockpit transcript of chief pilot Arkadiusz Protasiuk’s words.

Kaczynski Pilots ‘Pressured’ | News | The Moscow Times (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/kaczynski-pilots-pressured/410500.html)

I know this message has been hammered home many times on this and other forums but, its a message which can never be overstated, especially for those working in smaller organisations where crews (often single pilot) are regularly marginalized by commercial and political pressures.

The bottom line is - never allow yourself to be forced into compromising safety. Better to lose your job than your life or the lives of those in your care.

Anyone who hasn't read the NTSB report of the 2001 Gulfstream crash at Aspen ... should do so: http://www.ntsb.gov/Publictn/2002/AAB0203.pdf

[SilsoeSid]

Nice bottom line Hell Man,

Something that CRM courses also try to highlight.
Unfortunately over here, some have a mentality that CRM doesn't apply to single pilots ops. Usually backed with a statement such as, "Ah CRM, would that be for single pilot operations " I have f...ed up so I will give myself a good talking to !"

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/416160-heli-down-devon.html

[rick1128]

The previous Presidential pilot as fired from his position because He refused to do something unsafe.

A previous Chief Pilot I worked for, had a very strict and interesting rule. If you miss on the first approach, you go straight to your alternate. The only exception is if you have a very strong indication that you can make on your next try. This accident was a case in point. Almost all the approach accidents happen don't happen on the first approach. they happen on one of the re-trys.

[Brilliant Stuff]

CRM is brilliant but only the tip of the iceberg to whom CRM applies actually sits in the class room the rest is blissfully unaware sitting in their offices. :ugh::ugh:

That is the conclusion I have come to.