Mangalore effect: DGCA emphasizes role of co-pilot in a crisis

Mumbai: If the commander of a flight doesn't respond to a situation, which demands that the aircraft should discontinue its descent for landing and pull up and do a go-around, then the first officer should take over the controls and do the needful.
There is nothing new in this norm, as it is already a standard operating procedure in airlines. What is new is that the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday issued an operations circular to stress once again the particular role that a first officer needed to follow in such a situation. Although the circular doesn't say it, it's apparent that this is one of the factors that led to the May 22 Mangalore air crash. The co-pilot called for a go-around but the commander ignored it and the co-pilot didn't take over the controls and the Boeing 737 eventually crashed.
A go-around is a safety procedure which involves discontinuing a landing approach which is not stabilised. A landing approach may not be stabilised due to a number of factors, like the high rate of descent, wind shear (wind continuously changing direction), poor weather and high speed. In such cases, the non-flying pilot, who generally is the first officer, has to call out for a 'go-around' and the commander should follow it.
11/08/10 Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Aug 2010, NACIL Aug 2010, Safety Aug 2010