CRM practitioners have to prob the desireability of such practices. We
also have to understand how these things come into being. If an Instructor
Pilot behaves in a manner that is contrary to SOP it sends a signal to the
more junior pilot. What will be the technique used by that junior pilot in
the future when he or she upgrades. Is it okay to take a second look at
minimums. Perhaps a slowly executed missed just in case you get a peek at
the runway. If the message is " I know what the SOP says, but you can
really do this...". No wonder the instructor was having a problem deciding
what to say to explain his actions.
It may well be that the situation could be handled safely and the
instructor had everything under control. The insidious thing is that you
can deviate from SOP's and nothing bad comes of it . But was it good
airmanship or starting down the path of denial? Have we added a new
operating norm?
Gerry