Airline pilot workload practices being examined?
 

Pilot Workload at Emirates Under Question - WSJ

Interesting, I wonder if this will grow legs and extend to other "safety first" carriers in our region with a bent for this sort of thing.

I particularly liked the bit about the vocal minority and engaging with management over pilots' concerns. I think the pat on the back you would get for engaging management would come with a target, or a "kick me" sign. Maybe psychopaths in airline management can be the next topic broached.

Maybe the pendulum is starting to swing away from aggressive airline management of their pilot workforce. Safety regulators can no longer rely on an airline to self manage their safety function. If it is happening at United, who use to be a leader in the field of pilot training and checking, then what nasty practices are occurring lower down the pecking order?

FAA Calls Out ?Systemic? Hazard at United - WSJ

At least one Australian Airline is no different. Absolutely right about the psychopaths in management.

Hopefully the pendulum does start to return in a sensible direction.

But like we said all along - it took a smoldering crater with a catastrophic loss of life for the Regulators to finally wake up to what has been under their noses the whole time. The government agencies are as much to blame as the airlines.

Fuel-Off :ok:

Abuse of sign on/sign off times is one of the more prevalent pressures applied to pilots, and one which regulators conveniently ignore by allowing unrealistic protocols in operations manuals.


How many Australian airlines still persist with 45 minutes before STD to 15 minutes after ATD as the 'approved' duty period? Most, I would guess.


If aircrew were to arrive at briefing precisely 45 minutes before STD, complete all their duties and clearance of security etc in a responsible but unhurried manner, the schedule would soon go to hell in a handbasket. On-time performance is a big deal for the marketing people.


As for the regulator, at audit time or during proving flights, simply timing the period for all pre-flight and post-flight duties to be completed could form the basis for legislating on an operator by operator basis. Those with better infrastructure and more efficient procedures would be less penalised than those without.

45 minutes?? Many, including my employer, allow 30 minutes.

But turning up on time and possibly leaving late is un-PIA according to my company, and fair work.

Why does it seem so easy to become an expert in determining airline safety? Companies that publish safety ratings should be required to show their complete methodology.

"Emirates is deemed one of the safest carriers in the world, with a seven-star rating by Airlineratings.com, a website that tracks and rates safety."

Edit: Coffee- HOT 10/10, Upgrade given to me, the rater- 10/10, Safety rating: 10/10.

This isn't a comment on EK.

As long as the public is of the opinion that you are an expert in anything, you are an expert, its as simple as that.

Working pilots are highly reluctant to offer a public opinion, and are probably forbidden by their employers from doing so. When the latest disaster occurs, this leaves a vacuum for sound bites that the "Aviation Expert" Geoffrey Thomas et al would love nothing better than to fill, further enhancing their public credibility as an expert. They become the go-to guys, because they will always provide an "independent expert" comment for a desperate media. Twitter & other social media increase the speed of, & heighten the hunger for information.

Pilot unions & associations are the only public voice pilots have and are dismissed as seeking improvements to T&C's under the guise of safety. Advertising spend determines the required editorial slant about the evils of the greedy unions in the major media.

We have moved well beyond (possibly, it never existed) a fact & reason based public mind, to one based almost entirely on opinion, an opinion that can be influenced, moulded & persuaded. He who has the biggest megaphone controls the narrative, and therefore opinion. PR 101.

Unfortunately it will take a lot more smoking holes in the ground before the captured regulators are forced to behave as regulators, not clients.

The sign on time issue effects my airline as well. If I want a cruisey day where. I'm not late from the get go I have to turn up early, if. I don't then we can't get off blocks on time and we end up missing slots and getting mucked around.
Much paperwork has been submitted, nothing changes. The problem I have with turning up on time is that it makes my life harder and doesn't seem to get any sort of message through when the flights get delayed.
The only way I can see it being effective is if we all turn up on time rather than early but that would require coordination which is basically illegal where I am.

At least one major airline in Australia has a 60 minute sign on and 30 minute sign off for domestic operations and 90/60 for international ops.

Well that is realistic. They must have a good Union because CASA have been known to accept 45/15 even for international, and as a previous poster says, 30 for domestic.

I think you will find that Air Nauru operate to a standard that is far more impressive and practical than most other airlines, re sign on, sign off.

Obie. In the 11 years I flew with the company, in the 70/and 80's, there was never any push by Air Nauru management for on time arrivals or departures.

Although crews tried hard to stick to the schedules, it was rarely possible due the Pacific way of life. Of course there was no competition on the routes we flew and that was a big factor for a relaxed approach to keeping on schedule. Mostly Air Nauru had very experienced pilots and that helped in the exemplary safety record which I believe still applies.

Maybe it will become. ..... Wait for it.......... "Worlds best practice". BOOM. Love that chestnut.

15 minute standoff bay international sign off.

DTA linked to sign on sign off under the new JQ EBA, expect more calls to extend what is already grossly inadequate times.

"Obie. In the 11 years I flew with the company, in the 70/and 80's, there was never any push by Air Nauru management for on time arrivals or departures."

No comment!

"I think you will find that Air Nauru operate to a standard that is far more impressive and practical than most other airlines, re sign on, sign off."


Don't you mean "used to operate ..."? Air Nauru hasn't existed for near 7 years.

Want to do a google search, Dodo!?
Air Nauru, Our Airline, Airlines of Nauru, Whatever!
Since the mid to late 90's, one of the best kept secrets of the Pacific!
Great crews then, and today, great airline, great standards.
You might struggle to meet their standards for a Flight Crew position Dodo!

So suddenly we revert to 'mine is bigger than yours'. Back on thread, please, gentlemen.