This from an experienced pilot starting with a new airline several years ago. What walking around blindfolded and holding hands has to do with flight safety, I simply don't know. You tell me.


"I'll never forget doing that 2 day CRM course. It was a total farce. The last exercise (boxes needed to be ticked) involved all 20 of us being blind-folded - the objective to group hug based on being given a silent, personal number. No one was allowed to speak their number, the theory being we would all eventually link up (arms on shoulders) 1 through to 20. The course teacher was a former flight attendant".

Would any of the 'pro-CRM' lobby on this thread kindly explain the (presumably obvious) benefits to an Ops Manager (Police Aviation) of being subjected to that farce?

Considering the required level of flexibility of modern ops, the constantly upgrading communication technology and the inevitable tendency toward a net-centric management ... CRM courses are a really good and unique opportunity to see face-to-face your chain of command at least once a year ... maybe in a nice and exotic location. Of course different every year. Thanks!

BOAC

If the ops manager also acts as a line pilot from time to time, then the obvious need for CRM training is met by the fact that all crew members require it.

However, if the ops manager no longer holds a licence or is not a pilot at all, then their attendance at a CRM course may be detremental, as I've seen myself. CRM should allow discussion on the difficulties faced by crew and how to overcome those issues - very hard to do, especially for new guys, when the boss is right there.

CRM, in it's "Crew" format, should be tailored, IMO, to the flight crew only (pilots, F/A and in some companies, dispatchers).
Diluting it to non-flying employees or those with no operational concerns to the actual flight creates a situation where the course applies to everyone, but benefits no one. I've seen this at my own company and am on the development team for our new courses, which we are taking in this direction.

Also, if anyone gets the chance to look at or take the C\L\R course (Command, Leadership, Resource Management) that united airlines (and others) put on - do it! It's a refreshing take on the CRM concept that is much more applicable to that "flight crew" group I mentioned earlier.