Dirty Flight Decks
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Dirty Flight Decks
Commercial aircraft flight decks tend to be terribly dirty. This dirt consists of dust, mainly deed skin falling from pilots in a particularly dry environment, spilt drinks, soiled seat cushions and various things that have been dropped over the years and not recovered and in some cases are rotting. It is not unusual to find water bottles etc behind rudder pedals that not only add to a dirty flight deck but also contribute a flight safety risk.
I feel that flight decks are “our office in the sky” as well as “our canteen”. We work and eat in them for long periods of time, in fact longer than would normally be permissible under current EU Working Time Directives and I am suggesting that our well qualified engineering colleagues phase-in a periodic specialised deep clean of our work place.
No other groups of workers in an office or factory environment would put up with conditions similar to what the pilots have to every working day, so for health and safety reasons, many of which are legal requirements, it is suggested that airline management insist on periodic engineering specialised deep cleansing of flight decks.
Does anyone know of any company that do phase-in periodic deep cleaning of their flight decks?
I feel that flight decks are “our office in the sky” as well as “our canteen”. We work and eat in them for long periods of time, in fact longer than would normally be permissible under current EU Working Time Directives and I am suggesting that our well qualified engineering colleagues phase-in a periodic specialised deep clean of our work place.
No other groups of workers in an office or factory environment would put up with conditions similar to what the pilots have to every working day, so for health and safety reasons, many of which are legal requirements, it is suggested that airline management insist on periodic engineering specialised deep cleansing of flight decks.
Does anyone know of any company that do phase-in periodic deep cleaning of their flight decks?
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"No other groups of workers in an office or factory environment would put up with conditions similar to what the pilots have to every working day" because there not animals
Have you ever heard the term "the job is not complete untill you cleaned up".
Other workers do in general clean up after themselves.
I would suggest that you clean up after yourself like everybody else does in every other job. I have seen some Flight decks left in awful conditions that you wouldn't let a dog sit in.
My company, however do a weekly clean, its not a deep clean but a clean non the less. A deep clean to remove all that you speak would involve the removal of a lot of equipment and would not really be practical.
Have you ever heard the term "the job is not complete untill you cleaned up".
Other workers do in general clean up after themselves.
I would suggest that you clean up after yourself like everybody else does in every other job. I have seen some Flight decks left in awful conditions that you wouldn't let a dog sit in.
My company, however do a weekly clean, its not a deep clean but a clean non the less. A deep clean to remove all that you speak would involve the removal of a lot of equipment and would not really be practical.
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As of respect to the next crew we make a habit of cleaning the cockpit of any used item after the flight. Also ,the cleaning staff does vacuum the cockpit often. Sometimes,on long legs, one may use a wet towel to clean some dirty switches or pannels.
You clean your desk at home,why not do the same at the 'office'?
You clean your desk at home,why not do the same at the 'office'?
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Just ask any of your engineering colleagues for some wet/dry anti static wipes to remove your finger prints from the CDU's displays and instruments i'm sure they'll be happy to part with some.
I never did understand why pilots look with their fingers
I have to stop rubbing Skydrol on the headsets
I never did understand why pilots look with their fingers
I have to stop rubbing Skydrol on the headsets
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Having spent a long time on long range type aircraft, like Lockheed P3 and B747, the potential for these sorts of problems was always there.
I got into the habit of carrying 'wet-ones' and a good dry paint brush, to get out all that dust, dirt and crumbs that gets down into the control heads, especially on the center instrument pedistal.
Lots of time to get a reasonable job done most flights!
Cheers...FD...
I got into the habit of carrying 'wet-ones' and a good dry paint brush, to get out all that dust, dirt and crumbs that gets down into the control heads, especially on the center instrument pedistal.
Lots of time to get a reasonable job done most flights!
Cheers...FD...
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Bugs on the outside of the windows I will clean, sweaty forehead marks on the inside of the windows must be cleaned by the sleepy crew when they wake up!
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jumbojohn
This was part of your first post.
"....It is not unusual to find water bottles etc behind rudder pedals that not only add to a dirty flight deck but also contribute a flight safety risk......."
This was your second.
"I'm not talking about general tidiness but deep ingrained dirt."
What do you mean??
If water bottles behind the rudder pedals etc., is not included in general tidiness I don't should be.
This was part of your first post.
"....It is not unusual to find water bottles etc behind rudder pedals that not only add to a dirty flight deck but also contribute a flight safety risk......."
This was your second.
"I'm not talking about general tidiness but deep ingrained dirt."
What do you mean??
If water bottles behind the rudder pedals etc., is not included in general tidiness I don't should be.
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Ingrained dirt actually justifies a thorough cleaning by specially trained staff on regular basis because I would not see myself permanently cleaning my working place for the sake of "absolute" cleanliness and I am not there for that.
However, self respect and respect to those who are taking over from you is a matter of good education. Some do have it, some others just do not.
As usual, and it's deplorable, the only way to compell people to clean up after their duty is sanction.
However, self respect and respect to those who are taking over from you is a matter of good education. Some do have it, some others just do not.
As usual, and it's deplorable, the only way to compell people to clean up after their duty is sanction.
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The day I clean up the cockpit after you is the day you come and clean my ramp van....
Here Here.
Previously I was wondering the effects of a major decompression and all that crap flying around?
Still wondering.
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Pilots should leave the Cockpit clean, many could do more!
The biggest issue is dust, crumbs and skin every where!
This needs to be an Ginger Beer function, i.e to maintain the aircraft.
This dust and debris does clog filters and does reduce component life. In one case even started a fire, fortunately the aircraft was on the ground in Corfu.
Keep the pressure up! We need clean Flight Decks!
The biggest issue is dust, crumbs and skin every where!
This needs to be an Ginger Beer function, i.e to maintain the aircraft.
This dust and debris does clog filters and does reduce component life. In one case even started a fire, fortunately the aircraft was on the ground in Corfu.
Keep the pressure up! We need clean Flight Decks!
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Last weekend I had to rewire some instruments on a A300. I was crushed somewhere behind the center instr panel, between engine instruments, rudder pedals and the front bulkhead. You cannot believe what a mess this was. A layer of 5cm thick black dust.
But then again, you haven't seen a mechanic canteen if you say cockpits are dirty.
But then again, you haven't seen a mechanic canteen if you say cockpits are dirty.
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SOP ?
I remember joining Lauda Air in Vienna some years ago now , and the thing that struck me was the incredible cleanliness of the aircraft , inside , outside , front , back , galleys , wheelwells ...............
The Flight decks were like the aircraft had just left Seattle , with loads of paint brushes and wipes available at all times.
The SOP was that any crew boarding an aircraft who found things not as they shoud be ,reported it straight away ie , before they got blamed for it !!
The inbound cabin crew were responsible for leaving the cabin in immaculate ready-to-go condition before going off duty( with the aid of kosher cleaners etc ). This virtually ensured the on-time departure of the next flight .
It was hard to work out the age of the aircraft while sitting on the Flight Deck , like flying a brand new aircraft every day.Every scratch on the panel was touched up etc , otherwise the main man wanted to know why. The aircraft were like his personal fleet of Ferraris and Mercs - you do not leave them disgusting , so why would you do it to a $50 million aircraft ?
Is it so hard to do ?
My next airline was a Big Airline in UK and the difference / filth was shocking.
The Flight decks were like the aircraft had just left Seattle , with loads of paint brushes and wipes available at all times.
The SOP was that any crew boarding an aircraft who found things not as they shoud be ,reported it straight away ie , before they got blamed for it !!
The inbound cabin crew were responsible for leaving the cabin in immaculate ready-to-go condition before going off duty( with the aid of kosher cleaners etc ). This virtually ensured the on-time departure of the next flight .
It was hard to work out the age of the aircraft while sitting on the Flight Deck , like flying a brand new aircraft every day.Every scratch on the panel was touched up etc , otherwise the main man wanted to know why. The aircraft were like his personal fleet of Ferraris and Mercs - you do not leave them disgusting , so why would you do it to a $50 million aircraft ?
Is it so hard to do ?
My next airline was a Big Airline in UK and the difference / filth was shocking.
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Please note:
I have the greatest respect for our engineers, in fact I'm a qualified aircraft engineer myself!
I always take the time to clean and tidy the flight deck upon leaving, I encourage my colleagues to do the same and I certainly do not expect any engineer to clean-up after me.
I'm advocating and calling for airline managers to implement a periodic, perhaps hangar input, deep clean of our work place in the interests of hygiene and health. This deep clean should be considered a specialist function using specialist equipment with adequate man-hours allocated to task.
And for clarification, I spent some time upside-down in the seat trying to recover the aforementioned water bottle from behind the rudder pedals without success so in the end had to enter the problem the tech log.
I have the greatest respect for our engineers, in fact I'm a qualified aircraft engineer myself!
I always take the time to clean and tidy the flight deck upon leaving, I encourage my colleagues to do the same and I certainly do not expect any engineer to clean-up after me.
I'm advocating and calling for airline managers to implement a periodic, perhaps hangar input, deep clean of our work place in the interests of hygiene and health. This deep clean should be considered a specialist function using specialist equipment with adequate man-hours allocated to task.
And for clarification, I spent some time upside-down in the seat trying to recover the aforementioned water bottle from behind the rudder pedals without success so in the end had to enter the problem the tech log.
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Jumbo John,
Like I said earlier alot of equipment would have to be removed for that kind of clean which would mean alot of inpestions (some duplicates inspections) and testing afterwards, not to mention the problems that are uncovered. If the equipment has to be removed for other maintanence purposes thats fine but the cost of removing things on that magnitude just for a clean is not cost effective.
When I worked in heavy maintanence many years ago areas were always cleaned when equipment was removed but I'd imagine now with the competition these days only the areas that are to be inspected are cleaned.
And as we all know its money that does all the talking in this industry.
Like I said earlier alot of equipment would have to be removed for that kind of clean which would mean alot of inpestions (some duplicates inspections) and testing afterwards, not to mention the problems that are uncovered. If the equipment has to be removed for other maintanence purposes thats fine but the cost of removing things on that magnitude just for a clean is not cost effective.
When I worked in heavy maintanence many years ago areas were always cleaned when equipment was removed but I'd imagine now with the competition these days only the areas that are to be inspected are cleaned.
And as we all know its money that does all the talking in this industry.
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with a great respect to engineers and job They do...
I must say I don't like You sitting on my seat with no protection cover.
Car engineers use it always I go with my car to make an inspection. Is it so difficult for some of You to put a sheet of material on the seat before you put your a.. on?
You use this seat for a while to make papers or ( happens now and then) to repair the thing that calls for you knowledge but ... we use it for much longer time wearing white shirts!
I always clean up the cockpit before I leave it ( bottles , papers, fruit cores etc - the staff I may be responsible for) and the cleaning service is not always allowed to enter the deck and use vacuum in the vicinity of the knobs and switches ( happened to inhall...) - so tell me who is to clean the hidden parts of the decks? all these small compartments for things like torches, landing gear emergency extension handles etc?
and guess who inhalls that filthy air for 10 hrs?
I must say I don't like You sitting on my seat with no protection cover.
Car engineers use it always I go with my car to make an inspection. Is it so difficult for some of You to put a sheet of material on the seat before you put your a.. on?
You use this seat for a while to make papers or ( happens now and then) to repair the thing that calls for you knowledge but ... we use it for much longer time wearing white shirts!
I always clean up the cockpit before I leave it ( bottles , papers, fruit cores etc - the staff I may be responsible for) and the cleaning service is not always allowed to enter the deck and use vacuum in the vicinity of the knobs and switches ( happened to inhall...) - so tell me who is to clean the hidden parts of the decks? all these small compartments for things like torches, landing gear emergency extension handles etc?
and guess who inhalls that filthy air for 10 hrs?