Re: Emergency Talk
Anthony Sasso (Anthony.Sasso_at_nwa.com)
Mon, 03 Feb 1997 08:53:41 -0800
CRMDEEN_at_aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 97-02-03 02:18:41 EST, you write:
> "Does anyone have experience with 'Emergency' talk"
> << kriechc_at_voyager.co.nz (Chris Kriechbaum) >>
> Yes, Chris, we have had some experience with this concept. Several years ago
> our Air Force C-130 program began aggressively advocating a systematic
> progression of assertiveness. Assertiveness has different levels of
> intensity, beginning with a simple suggestion, advancing through a
> "criticism" level, then confrontation, and finally (and unfortunately),
> conflict. Standardized phrases are then assigned to each level. The premise
> is that a functioning crew need only work at the "suggestion" level. When
> the asserting crewmember is ineffective, usually because of communication
> barriers, the assertion level is raised. Advancing to the next higher step is
> "emergency" in nature, just as declaring "go around" is necessary to elicit
> an immediate reaction to a challenge. The Air Force designed and developed
> the phrase "Time Out", and established specific, procedural responses to
> occur when a crewmember said this. These responses are contained within
> regulations.
> When the phrase was first published there was a lot of resistance to it.
> Some thought it would usurp the authority of the PIC, others thought it was
> some "psychobabble silver bullet" that would produce instant salvation.
> As we CRM facilitators continued to explain that accident reports
> often indicate someone on the aircraft knew there was a problem, but did not
> speak up. Why not? Perhaps they did not really know "how" to speak up. A
> published phrase might give them the tool they need to overcome whatever
> barrier is inhibiting them.
> Today, I am pleased to report, I hear of a story at least once a week
> in which a crew exercised this phrase, and a successful outcome was reached.
> PIC's have discovered that they did not lose their authority. Crew
> interaction actually improved. Available resources were better utilized. IT
> WORKS! One flying unit went so far as to establish a local SOP that says
> if, on a training flight, "Time Out" is said twice during the same flight,
> the mission is aborted and the crew returns.
> Tools that are properly designed, trained, and supported by management,
> will work. One of our more recent mishaps might have been averted if
> someone would have said it before the takeoff. As with any tool in any
> business, it won't work if you don't use it.
> Greg Deen
> HTI-C-130 ATS.
Greg: Have we flown together before?
Tony :)