'Pilots must also switch off cells'

New Delhi: From now on, passengers won't be the only ones expected to switch off their mobile phones when an aircraft door shuts for take off. The government is making it mandatory for pilots in cockpits also to do the same in a bid to ensure their attention is fully on safe take off and not diverted by talking on phone.
"This can be a big safety hazard. The probe report of last year plane crash in Buffalo, US, has revealed that both the pilot and the co-pilot were talking on phone till late in take off stage. This is a common practice in India also and we are issuing a circular to curb this," said a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official. Pilots will, however, be allowed to use phones in emergency situation like aircraft communication system failing on ground.
The regulator has made plans to implement this new safety rule strictly. Since pilots are in command of flight and cabin crew members — who ensure passengers switch off their phones inflight — may not report against the pilots, it has found a novel way. Cockpit voice recorders will be checked on a random basis to detect this. We also have a system where airline crew can give anonymous information," said the official.
09/03/10 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Mar 2010, Safety Mar 2010