In a move to improve Crew Resource Management (CRM), Air India Express has issued an order asking its pilots to address the pilot-in-command (PIC) of their flight “by first name or simply as captain,” and not as “sir’.
The order was issued after a report of the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) stated that lack of coordination among two pilots on a flight had led to a tail strike and the aircraft landing gear contacting airport perimeter wall during takeoff.
“While all the causative factors brought about by the Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are being addressed, this circular aims to target the breakdown of CRM in the subject incidents. It is proposed that in order to improve CRM and reduce Trans-Cockpit- Authority –Gradient, a more informal cockpit environment is required. This may be a generational and cultural shift which has built up over the years and may take time to be fully accepted and reap results. However, as a first step, henceforth, first officer shall address the PIC not as “Sir” by first name simply as “Captain”, chief of operations, Captain VS Rajkumar, Air India Express said in a circular.
In a top-level communication on Friday (August 20), the airline’s chief of operations, Captain VS Rajkumar, cited an incident that took place on October 2018, during take off from Trichy, the aircraft did not meet the take off performance and the wheels contacted the ILS localizer antenna and airport perimeter wall causing damage to the underbelly. Fortunately, the aircraft landed back safely.
“The Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) investigation report states that the cause of the accident was a delay in takeoff due to reduction of take off thrust N1 from 98% to 77% before reaching V1 ( which means the minimum speed in the takeoff, following a failure of the critical engine at VEF’ at which the pilot can continue the takeoff and achieve the required height above the takeoff surface withint the takeoff distance), inability of both the crew members to monitor the thrust parameter and to take timely corrective action. The contributory factior being mechanised failure of PIC seat back rest recliner mechanism during take off roll and breakdown of crew coordinationduring switching between Pilot Flying and Pilot monitoring, resulting in a tail strike and subsequently the aircraft impacting the localizer antenna and boundary wall of the airport,” the circular said.