Re: Building in a system bias against CRM? -Reply

Steve Swauger (TheSwaugers_at_CompuServe.COM)
Fri, 15 May 1998 01:12:30 -0400

Steve,
As always, this area is not defined by the black-and-white.
Certainly, if the upgrading pilot is very weak and the PNF is prompting
him, the evaluator is well within his duties to stop the assistance. Far
more often, it is a case of an otherwise strong pilot making an
uncharacteristic mistake and the PNF prompting his/her awareness with a
standard deviation call-out.
Any pilot, on any day, can fail a simulator. As much as the
industry would like to claim the opposite, a simulator flight is an
abnormal experience. The motion is unrealistic and causes disorientation,
the collimated displays are visually conflicting, simulator delays are
distracting, etc... Together, they create a situation that is unique, and
unfortunately, very different from the aircraft.
My type rating in the B-737 was given by a FED that primarily
performed rotary wing evaluations. Several times, I have received line
`flight' evaluations by maintenance and avionics FEDs. I completely
respect these individuals, but more often than not, they are unfamiliar
with the company procedures of the pilots they are evaluating. They are
placed in the difficult position of `evaluating' our performance based on
the say-so of the check airman.

<Steve writes:
<Question: Is intervention necessarily warranted even when it appears
someone is being "carried" by another member of the crew?

I'm not as familiar with civilian check requirements, but wouldn't a lack
of
procedural/technical proficiency on the part of the evaluatee that is
obvious because of the excessive inputs required by other members of
the crew be grounds for a less than successful check outcome? Does
an examiner actually need to interfere with the other crew member's
inputs if they are coming at the appropriate place and time to keep things
safe (I can certainly see interference if the evaluatee were being led by
the PNF "CRM" inputs)? I guess it depends on how "above and beyond"
CRM is defined.

Steve Slatter

>>> Steve Swauger <TheSwaugers_at_CompuServe.COM> 05/13/98 _at_
1707 >>>

It sounds like the FED was trying to get a fair evaluation of the
new Captain. That is his/her job. Their diplomacy and tact are, as
always, open to discussion. I would draw a clear line between full-scale
"CRM" and standard company call-outs. If the PNF makes
company-standard
deviation callouts or normal informative calls, this should be permitted.
If the PNF is `carrying' the new captain with above-and-beyond CRM,
then
the FED has every right to intervene.
The most common problem occurs when the FED doesn't know the
company's procedures (more common than uncommon) and tries to
curtail
normal procedures. CRM is important and vital, but the new captain
should
not be evaluated using the an "All-Pro FO". He/She should be evaluated
using a average "company-standard FO."

Steve Swauger
Southwest Airlines