Sterile Cockpits in Australia
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Sterile Cockpits in Australia
Just doing some Human Factors reading and I am interested in how Australian Airlins apply Sterile Cockpit procedures (if at all). Specifically what are your airlines limits etc.
I know the FAA mandate no non-safety related communications during certain phases of flight, but i can't find any legislation in Aust CAO/CASR/CAR etc. Is there somthing I am missing?
I know the FAA mandate no non-safety related communications during certain phases of flight, but i can't find any legislation in Aust CAO/CASR/CAR etc. Is there somthing I am missing?
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Yes...there has long been speculation about the infertility of Australian pilots, didnt realise Airlines are now setting limits... problem must be more widespread than most thought ..! Overall the greater aviation community will ultimately benefit by this situation
Bottums Up
Two types of sterility:
- Conversational - No non operational conversation below A100, including on the ground.
- Health - Cockpits are grotty places that never get cleaned and no cleaning products are ever supplied.
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Clarry - we had 1 or 2 of the more experienced ginger beers that regularly dusted the pedestals and polished the clocks - they were older guys so probably a generational trait long gone. Can't blame the cleaners for not having a go - must look like a pit of venomous snakes to them and you can be sure no one would have trained them even on basics. 
Captain Claret...
Fair enough. Perhaps next time RTFQ? Point 1 of your answer was close, but Point 2 missed the point of what Gundog01 asked.
Gundog...............look at CAAP No: 215-1 (0) for starters. Also look at the international standards (shall have items) for contents of an operations manual (ICAO Annex 6 Part 1, Appendix 2, paragraph 2.1.1...
Two types of sterility:
1.Conversational - No non operational conversation below A100, including on the ground.
2.Health - Cockpits are grotty places that never get cleaned and no cleaning products are ever supplied.
1.Conversational - No non operational conversation below A100, including on the ground.
2.Health - Cockpits are grotty places that never get cleaned and no cleaning products are ever supplied.
Gundog...............look at CAAP No: 215-1 (0) for starters. Also look at the international standards (shall have items) for contents of an operations manual (ICAO Annex 6 Part 1, Appendix 2, paragraph 2.1.1...
Instructions outlining the responsibilities of operations personnel pertaining to the conduct of flight operations.
Perhaps next time RTFQ? Point 1 of your answer was close, but Point 2 missed the point of what Gundog01 asked.
Or, as Al Czervick said, "Lighten up, Honey!". 
Claret, we're (I mean you) shortly to be issued with Dustbusters.
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If the flight deck is dirty write it up in the tech log. Finger prints on the PFD/ND require a specific method of cleaning (not sure why people still insist on touching the screens) procedure is in the AMM. Slight thread drift!
Gundog01
Good banter, but please indulge me - back to the original question for a bit as its important.
Unlike the FAA, CASA does not mandate sterile cockpits. However, the operations manuals of individual airlines should do but it is only covered by CASA in advisory material (CAAP). Ops manual requirements vary significantly between companies. e.g.
No "non - operational" conversation at all on the flight deck from:
1. Engine start to top of climb / top of descent to shutdown
2. Push back or taxi to transition altitude / transition level to park
3. Entering the runway to 5,000 ft / 5,000 ft to exiting the runway
The number of variations goes on and has permutations associated with using the same terminology for cabin crew but meaning something different (when they can call the flight deck).
Some airlines do not have any sterile cockpit procedures at all. Most do but in my experience, not much attention is paid to these operations manuals requirements with them being treated as "advisory" or ignored.
Perhaps the light hearted way that the question has been dealt with above gives a bit of an indication as to how sterile cockpit rules / procedures are regarded by many.
You may gather that it is a subject close to my heart! No matter how clever we think we are, at the end of the day we are single channel processors i.e. can really only give one thing our attention at a time. I've heard too many CVR's where the conversation leading up to the accident was anything but operational.
Fly safe
PJ
Unlike the FAA, CASA does not mandate sterile cockpits. However, the operations manuals of individual airlines should do but it is only covered by CASA in advisory material (CAAP). Ops manual requirements vary significantly between companies. e.g.
No "non - operational" conversation at all on the flight deck from:
1. Engine start to top of climb / top of descent to shutdown
2. Push back or taxi to transition altitude / transition level to park
3. Entering the runway to 5,000 ft / 5,000 ft to exiting the runway
The number of variations goes on and has permutations associated with using the same terminology for cabin crew but meaning something different (when they can call the flight deck).
Some airlines do not have any sterile cockpit procedures at all. Most do but in my experience, not much attention is paid to these operations manuals requirements with them being treated as "advisory" or ignored.
Perhaps the light hearted way that the question has been dealt with above gives a bit of an indication as to how sterile cockpit rules / procedures are regarded by many.
You may gather that it is a subject close to my heart! No matter how clever we think we are, at the end of the day we are single channel processors i.e. can really only give one thing our attention at a time. I've heard too many CVR's where the conversation leading up to the accident was anything but operational.
Fly safe
PJ
Last edited by Propjet88; 24th Oct 2010 at 21:59.
Bottums Up
Originally Posted by cone zone
Bloggs and Clarry, you guys make the mess so unless it is edible us engineers leave it be
If the flight deck can't be cleaned when the rest of the cabin is, then a few tools to do it, would be mighty handy.
Perhaps the light hearted way that the question has been dealt with above gives a bit of an indication as to how sterile cockpit rules / procedures are regarded by many.
Jibbering about irrelevances at the wrong time has caused accidents that have killed hundreds of people and will continue to do so. If a Sterile Cockpit policy isn't in a company's ops manual AND adhered to, then it bloody-well should be.
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Back to standardisation - for all?
Interesting topic.
Anecdotal evidence to hand after some 'on the drums' communications.
One crew got bollixed because the PF made a timely 'non standard' (funny) aside, which relived some tension in a tough part of a sim exercise.
Another crew, (same sim and sim operator) were criticized, because it was "like a tomb".
Naturally, the first crew had talked to the second crew.
I don't mind what the 'rules' are, but lets try for standard operational procedure. That cannot be too much to ask.
Sotto voce - 'Can it' ?.
Anecdotal evidence to hand after some 'on the drums' communications.
One crew got bollixed because the PF made a timely 'non standard' (funny) aside, which relived some tension in a tough part of a sim exercise.
Another crew, (same sim and sim operator) were criticized, because it was "like a tomb".
Naturally, the first crew had talked to the second crew.
I don't mind what the 'rules' are, but lets try for standard operational procedure. That cannot be too much to ask.
Sotto voce - 'Can it' ?.