Full United Airlines safety memo to pilots
Here’s the complete “brutally honest” safety memo sent to every United Airlines pilot this year. Lots of good points about airmanship, discipline and CRM:
Date: January 9, 2015
SAFETY ALERT: Significant safety concerns
Recent events in our operation have dictated that we communicate with all of you immediately. Over the past few weeks, our airline has experienced what we would categorize as major safety events and near-misses.
In Flight Operations we have seen two events in close proximity to terrain (one resulting in a GPWS pull-up maneuver), an Undesired Aircraft State on departure and a low fuel state on arrival after a deviation from a Sabre Flight Plan routing.
The common thread with all of these is that they are preventable. We must ask ourselves, “Do we have our priorities in line every time we put on our uniforms and strap into the airplane?” While the airline industry always seems to be in a state of flux, the one constant for all of us is that we are professional aviators with the common goal of flying our passengers and crew from point A to point B SAFELY.
Another common thread to some of these events is a lack of attention to disciplined Crew Resource Management. Every time we enter the cockpit with the intention of performing our pilot duties, we evaluate risk. Every pilot must be willing to speak up if safety is in question. In the same vein, every pilot must also accept the input of their fellow crewmembers on the flight deck. In most cases, one of the pilots recognizes an unsafe situation. In some cases, a pilot’s input is ignored. This is unacceptable.
The recent CFIT accident in Birmingham involving another carrier underscores how quickly things can unravel. The approach and landing appeared normal to the pilots until right before impact. Let’s not for a moment think something like that could not happen at United.
We are currently seeing a lot of movement in the pilot group, such as retirements, seat movements and new hires, that — while welcome — introduces significant risk to the operation. While no one ever shows up to work with the goal of intentionally making a mistake, we are human and mistakes happen. What we can control is how we conduct ourselves on each and every flight. If you have ever used the term “Standard Brief” before departure, you have not complied with an SOP. If you have ever exceeded Stabilized Approach Criteria intentionally and not executed a go-around, you are not in compliance.
We know this is a brutally honest message and the tendency may be to rationalize why compliance is not occurring in some areas. Bottom line: United is at a critical juncture in its history and we as aviators must adhere to the policies and procedures outlined in the Flight Manuals, FOM, WOM and ALPA Code of Ethics. Reviewing, understanding, and complying with the guidance in company manuals is imperative to returning ourselves, our fellow crewmembers and passengers to their families safely. This is our top priority and greatest responsibility, and we appreciate in advance your continued commitment and cooperation.
Fly safe.
Howard Attarian, Sr. Vice President Flight Operations
Michael Quiello, Vice President Corporate Safety
Dale Masters on flying and understanding
This sport can be terribly frustrating at all levels, but after we pay our inevitable dues, it becomes more than worth the effort. Less experienced pilots must be patient and persistent, and continue to try different variations of method. After a few long thermal flight we begin to develop a sense of what is about to happen, and what to do about it. Then, after a few hundred flights, we begin to gain an intuitive sense of how to perform little miracles, almost on demand. To avenge the disappointment of short flights when the old-timers are trumpeting how good the soaring is, preserve, be as sensitive as possible to all forms of information, and use your imagination.
And never assume you really understand.
~ Dale Masters, 12,000 hours in gliders, from his book Soaring: Beyond the Basics.
I am in competition with no one
I do not compete for trophies.
~ Wilbur Wright
New book for pilots heading to the airlines
After the rubbish book last week (The Pilot Factor: A fresh look into Crew Resource Management) it was a real pleasure to read something well thought out, nicely presented, and filling an otherwise unmet need. Pilots in Command (2014) by Kristofer Pierson is published by Aviation Supplies and Academics (ASA) who have a large range of pilot training products. It’s about all the non-flying parts of being a great airline pilot.
“I wrote this book intending for it to become a guide for new or aspiring airline pilots, as much as for the experienced pilot who is looking ahead to upgrade”
~ Kristofer Pierson, Pilots in Command
In clear language he spells out things like crew briefings, CRM, operational integrity, known unknowns, non-normals, cockpit organization, layovers, and how a professional airline pilot looks and treats others. It’s general enough to work for all the US airlines I’ve jumpseated on. A good review for folks about to be a first-time captain, or heading to their first airline job. Would also be approiate for many corporate jobs. However it’s not for private or military pilots. And it’s not about personal airmanship, but rather professionalism in leading a crew.
It’s a little stiff, a little academic feeling, and no doubt that’s by design to appeal to university flight departments and FAA ATP schools. A few more examples and stories might have been nice. The title is short and sweet, but the odd s in Pilots seems to be there only to distinguish it from a book by a different author titled Pilot in Command. But I couldn’t fault the material. Nice summary of aviation human factors topics like CRM, pilot monitoring, etc. It’s up to date (2015) with FAR 117 and the latest changes to the FAA ATP requirements.
“No matter what your background is, how many hours you have under your belt, or how many type ratings you have, you can start improving today by making a difference in how you operate.”
~ Kristofer Pierson, Pilots in Command
There are lots of books on how to fly an ILS, aerodynamics, airliner systems, weather, regulations, airline history, on and on. But there wasn’t much on the practical aspects of running a crew and being an airline captain. Now there is.
(Note: I don’t know Kristofer Pierson, I didn’t get paid anything to post this, I bought the book myself using my own money.)