Cockfights in the cockpit

What makes the difference between life and death in the cockpit? Teamwork, besides technical competence, is the obvious answer. Just that sometimes the two don't come so beautifully together.
Recently, when an Air India co-pilot refused to fly with a commander, leaving 169 passengers in the lurch - even if it was at the behest of its union - it raised serious questions about pilots and their professionalism, and of course, the safety of passengers.
"Pilots come with different attitudes and temperaments," says an Air India commander. "There are ego issues, machismo, rudeness and age differences leading to communication problems."
Pilots still shake their head in amazement at an incident in 1988 when two senior Indian Airlines pilots were flying in a B737. The chill in the cockpit was such that when the commander forgot to put his landing gears down, the co-pilot kept mum. The plane landed on its belly in Kolkata, damaging it. Both pilots were taken off flying.
This extreme case of animosity is used as a cornerstone by airlines to show how lack of teamwork can endanger lives.
In fact, way back in 1979, Nasa identified deficient interpersonal communication as a causal factor in 70-80 % of accidents. That's when Cockpit and then Crew Resource Management (CRM) training began. It teaches crew about interpersonal skills; United Airlines was the first to implement it.
Co-pilots , says Capt Danny Desai, an examiner who worked in JetLite, were often left as unwanted entities on board before CRMs were introduced. "A good commander will rebuke his co-pilot in private unless there are extraordinary situations, but complement him in public. Don't break the young one down," he says. And that's why preflight briefings are so important - they're meant to break the ice. But that doesn't always happen.
"It has to do with our Asian culture where people don't speak up in front of a senior," says an insider. Once a pilot overshot the runway and the co-pilot remained mute.
"Sometimes the gradient of authority (age and knowledge difference between pilots) can be steep, causing the co-pilot to keep quiet," says a SpiceJet source.
Some say it is plain psychology. When the commander holds the key to a co-pilot's future, some prefer to err on the side of caution.
Airlines now allow changes in the roster if a pilot doesn't want to fly with another. In Air India, this is honoured; some 15% of pilots avail of this lenience . Even private airlines allow these concessions. At Indigo Airlines, says a source, CRMs are strictly followed and pilots can change their roster provided they give enough advance notice.
30/10/11 Shobha John/Times of India

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

Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Oct 2011, Safety Oct 2011