SAFE WINGS
This issue…
GET THERE- ITIS or GET-HOME-ITIS
PILOTS SELF RISK ASSESSMENT
* For In
ternal C
irculatio
n O
nly
Flight Safety Magazine of Air India, Air India Express and Alliance Air Issue 57, FEBRUARY 2017
F l i g h t S a f e t y M a g a z i n e o f A i r I n d i a , A i r I n d i a E x p r e s s a n d A l l i a n c e A i r
SAFE WINGS February Edition 57
1 | P a g e
EDITORIAL
Although the Regulations provide for a minimum amount of rest prior to a flight, there
is no one to monitor what the pilot is doing during the rest period. Is s/he actually
resting? In some countries and increasing so in India, a pilot’s flight may commence
from an airport where s/he is not based. In such cases it is tempting for them to make
maximum use of their time off at their home base and reach the operating base as late
as possible for the flight. It is not always possible to monitor all such cases and it is
usually left to the individual concerned. In this issue we have included an article on
pilots managing Risk.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The posting of stories, reports and documents in this magazine does not in any way,
imply or necessarily express or suggest that all the information is correct. It is based
on details gathered from various sources and is for information purpose only. The
Flight Safety Department is making this material available in its efforts to advance the
understanding of safety. It is in no way responsible for any errors, omissions or
deletions in the reports.
February Edition 57 SAFE WINGS
2 | P a g e
F l i g h t S a f e t y M a g a z i n e o f A i r I n d i a , A i r I n d i a E x p r e s s a n d A l l i a n c e A i r
GET THERE- ITIS
or GET-HOME-
ITIS
The Summer holidays
have just commenced
for the children and you
have planned and the
whole family is looking
forward to the long
awaited holiday to the
USA with flight bookings
done, hotel stays
confirmed and the first
destination being Disney
land. You are scheduled
for Doha Calicut flight
and after the flight you
have planned to take
the flight to Delhi the
same afternoon to catch
the night flight to New York. Unfortunately the monsoons have also
commenced in South India. When you approach Calicut, you find that the
airport is covered with CB clouds and a thunderstorm is in progress.
Nevertheless, you commence an approach and the blinding wall of water
forces you to go-around. After holding for 10 minutes you commence another
approach without much change in weather and are forced to go around
again and as Cochin is also reporting strong monsoon conditions, you divert to
Bangalore.
You have calculated that if you don’t land in Calicut within the next 2 hours
you will miss the flight to Delhi. You quickly re-fuel at Bangalore and without
confirming the weather in Calicut takeoff again for Calicut, At Calicut the
weather is more or less the same and you again carry out two go-arounds due
to the co-pilot shouting out to go-around and getting ready to take over
controls. The co-pilot is aware of your reasons for Get-home-itis and is getting
really scared and finally tells you to go-around and divert, this time quite
emphatically.
In this scenario, it is quite possible that you did not have such a confident and
bold co-pilot and you continued with the approach in unsafe conditions. Things
may have turned out differently. In case of an incident or accident, not only
would your holiday be ruined but maybe even your career. However if you play
safe, yes you may miss your connecting flight and will have to rework your plans
F l i g h t S a f e t y M a g a z i n e o f A i r I n d i a , A i r I n d i a E x p r e s s a n d A l l i a n c e A i r
SAFE WINGS February Edition 57
3 | P a g e
and maybe go a day later but you would not have put yours or your
passengers lives at risk.
We have all faced such pressures for Get-home-itis and it takes a herculean
effort to overcome it and do what is right. The pressure may not always be due
to personal or family reasons but due to upset passengers, your flight duty
period coming to an end, etc.
We have seen what sort of pressures can influence a pilot’s decision making.
How do we go about mitigating them. You have to make your own check list
but some are listed below.
1) For really important trips plan a days buffer, although it may eat into your
leave.
2) Have an alternate plan ready incase you reach late, ie backup flight
even if you have to buy a last minute full fare ticket.
3) Advise those who are waiting for you and tell them you did the wiser
thing and you will be delayed.
4) Keep your passengers advised always of the weather at destination and
that there may be delays.
5) Even on a casual day return flight carry a small overnight kit containing
toiletries and a change of clothes in case you get stranded.
6) Always be ready to accept delays. Sometimes these are beyond your
control and so don’t permit them to irritate or stress you.
Mission fixation or get-home-itis is probably the most important item in risk
management because it places time related pressure on a pilot and is one of
the causes in majority of Approach and landing accidents.
by:-Capt Vivek Kulkarni
February Edition 57 SAFE WINGS
4 | P a g e
F l i g h t S a f e t y M a g a z i n e o f A i r I n d i a , A i r I n d i a E x p r e s s a n d A l l i a n c e A i r
Pilots Self Risk Assessment
afety Management System or SMS calls for Risk Assessment by identifying
the hazards and then either eliminating them or reducing the risk to an
acceptable level by mitigating strategies. We have heard of Airport Risk
Assessment or
Risk Assessment
of a special
procedure or for
cross runway
operations, etc.
However you as
the pilot may be
at risk and no
one has done a
Risk Assessment
of you the pilot.
How do we
face risks is
something we will discuss in this article.
Illness
When you are not well, in addition to dealing with the distraction of pain
and/or discomfort, even common illnesses like a cold are often self treated by
medications that can seriously affect a pilot’s ability to stay focused and clear-
headed during flight. The golden rule is if you’re not well, don’t fly.
Medication
Medicines can have a clear impact on a pilot’s
ability to perform. While some effects are obvious,
others can be deceptively subtle and may vary
according to an individual’s tolerance level.
Common amongst cold medicines and the most
unsafe for flying are sedating antihistamines,
in particular, diphenhydramine (e.g.
Benadryl). It is best to consult your
Company Doctor or Aviation
medicine specialist to know
what is safe.
S
Am I The RISK?
F l i g h t S a f e t y M a g a z i n e o f A i r I n d i a , A i r I n d i a E x p r e s s a n d A l l i a n c e A i r
SAFE WINGS February Edition 57
5 | P a g e
Stress
Even if we don't think about it, we are
under some level of stress with almost everything we do — whether
on the job, with family, or even during what’s supposed to be a relaxing
holiday. Stress can affect people differently, so it’s important to consider it in
your risk assessment. A quarrel or an argument can easily cloud your thoughts
and cause you to be distracted during flight. A more severe event, like a death
in the family requires even more attention and self-examination to assess
whether or not you’ve been able to properly come to terms with your situation
and your emotions. There are several ways to help manage stress and prevent
it from accumulating. A regular exercise programme and or yoga can be a
great stress buster . Time management can also help reduce stress by meeting
deadlines.
Alcohol
A couple of drinks maybe an effective way to relax and unwind after a tough
day but not if flying is on your agenda.. The regulations say you may not
operate an aircraft within twelve hours of having consumed alcohol. But
alcohol can have a lingering effect on the human body, and it’s best to buffer
that time and wait 24 hours before flying. Besides, everyone has a different
tolerance level and assimilation duration for alcohol. If you were really
celebrating or binge drinking then the effects may last 48 to 72 hours following
your last drink in the form of a hangover.
Fatigue
Although fatigue is rarely
the singular cause of an
accident, it is usually a
precursor to many poor
decisions . Some may feel
that lack of sleep can be
remedied with coffee or
tea, or that it is something
they can power through.
February Edition 57 SAFE WINGS
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F l i g h t S a f e t y M a g a z i n e o f A i r I n d i a , A i r I n d i a E x p r e s s a n d A l l i a n c e A i r
To manage fatigue, it’s important to listen to what your body is telling you. Do
you feel uncontrollably yawning or inadvertently dozing off (micro sleep).
Fatigue can also be caused by physical exertion.
Regardless of what causes fatigue, the important thing to know is how it can
affect your performance in the cockpit and how to prevent it in the first place.
The procedure is simple: get more sleep. One gadget that is helpful in
measuring the quantity and quality of sleep, is wearing a wrist activity tracker to
bed. They are able to provide a full report of your sleep cycles, including
periods of restlessness and time awake. With this data you can better assess
your fatigue level before flight.
Eating
Eating healthy, well-balanced meals is the best way to achieve your body’s
peak performance levels. Also keep yourself well hydrated and drink plenty of
water. Dehydration can cause dizziness, confusion, and weakness.
Legalities
Are all your licences current. Is your medical valid. Have you completed all the
requisite recurrent training. Are you within the Flight Duty time limits for the flight.
It maybe a good idea to keep a checklist for all the documents you need to
carry e.g. licences, medical certificate, recurrent training card, passport,
Company ID and Airport Entry pass.
Conclusion
Flying is a risky business. Learning how to identify and mitigate the risks that you
bring to a flight is an important step towards enhancing safety. It is difficult to
assess your own risk and it is a very personal process. Honesty and self discipline
is the key.
by:-Capt Vivek Kulkarni
PROMISING A SAFER SKY, AIR INDIA, AIR INDIA EXPRESS & ALLIANCE AIR
We give utmost importance to your valuable comments and feedback. Please do mail us at
Editorial: Capt V Kulkarni, Bhavish B S Designed by Bhavish BS