It may be time to re-examine requirement upgrade standards-veteran pilot

Jul 15, 2014 News

By Zena Henry
The numerous incidents and accidents occurring in the local aviation sector is perhaps evidence that changes ought to

Veteran pilot Captain Lloyd Marshall

be made to ensure safety. This is the indication of veteran pilot, Captain Lloyd Marshall who expressed alarm at the recurring incidence of aviation mishaps. As a major player in the sector, he insists, “The time perhaps, has also come for the training departments of certificate holders to re-examine whether pilots are being upgraded to captains based only on their ability and skill to fly the aircraft.”
The former Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) pilot placed focus on ‘pilots-in-command’ since in his view, what happens during a flight depends heavily on what the pilot does. Captain Marshall posited therefore that aviation training departments should acknowledge the outcomes of single crew operations against that of a multi-crew.
He charged that pilots must be sure of their roles and responsibilities, but the more popular single crew aircraft do not provide for that. “This”, Marshall said, “removes monitoring and oversight, despite the use of Standard Operation Procedures (SOP)”.
He continued that a Cessna for example, is operated by the pilot alone, but these planes can carry up to 14 passengers, so it is pivotal that these pilots be disciplined in carrying out their functions.
“In multi-crew aircraft, there is a built-in level of cockpit discipline because of mandatory cross-monitoring Standard Operating Procedures. In single crew aircraft there is no monitoring and therefore the importance of self-discipline cannot be over emphasized. Training must take this into consideration.”
However, while the single-crew operations are legal, Captain Marshall is adamant that companies must ensure “rigid operating procedures.” What is even more important, he urged is, “pilots ought to know how to assess a situation and know how to handle it.” In an earlier letter to the media, Captain Marshall had pointed out that the most successful and reliable pilots are usually the ones who have an innate sense of situation awareness, while study shows that the valuable resource of situation awareness can be acquired by aviators through training and self-discipline.
The veteran operator added that egos and other human behaviour can also be hindrances to proper piloting practices. For instance, a pilot might come across unfavourable conditions on landing, but because of ego or a personal desire, especially if another pilot would have landed at the said airport, the pilot carries out that mission.
The pilot said conditions could change instantly and that is when not only a pilot’s skill or ability to fly a plane is needed, but also, discipline. He indicated that it would appear that pilots feel obligated to complete a mission no matter the circumstance, “but what happened to turning back, what happen to aborting the mission, going around or using another landing location?”
Captain Marshall charged that it is usually a pilot’s judgment which enables him to carry out his functions safely rather than his ability to operate the aircraft.
“Without being judgmental or pedantic,” Captain Marshall submitted that any upgrade to the pilot-in-command training programme must include taking full command of, and accepting the responsibility for the aircraft, crew and passengers.
He urged pilots to review the maintenance log prior to accepting the aircraft for flight, and analyze weather reports, forecasts, fuel requirements and an alternate plan of action prior to departure. He said that making firm “no or go” decisions based on aeronautical knowledge, experience, Standard Operating Procedures and judgment could also help while resolving en-route meteorological, navigational and air traffic control situations.

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