Sterile Cockpit Perception

Sterile Cockpit Perception

 

In the last few months, I wrote something motivating concerning about Distractions in the Cockpit and Cockpit Discipline. So, distractions will always be part of a Cockpit environment, but how we as pilots can handle them, well this issue inspiring me again to focus and post something remarkable that can often mean the difference between a Safe Flight or an Incident or Accident, the Sterile Cockpit what that mean this word to you as a Safety Pilot .So it is important that there is a difference between having good judgment and making good decision.

The mental ability to perceive and differentiate alternatives permanently to have a good and safety flight all the time. Good judgment comes from the ability to perceive, become aware, observe, detect, and understand. Making the right decision is actually the end result of having good judgment and stay away of incidents and accidents.

What that Mean Sterile Cockpit ?



 

It's no secret. When a flight crew's attention is diverted from the task of flying, the chance of error increases. Over the years there have been dozens of air carrier accidents that occurred when the crew diverted attention from the task at hand and became occupied with items totally unrelated to flying. Consequently, important things were missed. Things like setting the flaps prior to takeoff, or extending the landing gear before landing. Things like monitoring altitude on an instrument approach, or using engine anti-ice for takeoff during a blinding snow storm.

In 1981 the FAA enacted FAR 121.542 and FAR 135.100 to help curb the number of these accidents. Commonly known as the "sterile cockpit rule," these regulations specifically prohibit crew member performance of non-essential duties or activities while the aircraft is involved in taxi, takeoff, landing, and all other flight operations conducted below 10,000 feet MSL, except cruise flight.

Sterile Cockpit Rules

FAR 121.542 / FAR 135.100--Flight Crew Member Duties

(a) No certificate holder shall require, nor may any flight crew member perform any duties during a critical phase of flight except those duties required for the safe operation of the aircraft. Duties such as company required calls made for non-safety related purposes as ordering galley supplies and confirming passenger connections, announcements made to passengers promoting the air carrier or pointing out sights of interest and filling out company payroll and related records are not required for the safe operation of the aircraft.

(b) No flight crew member may engage in, nor may any pilot in command permit, any activity during a critical phase of flight which could distract any flight crew member from the performance of his or her duties or which could interfere in any way with the proper conduct of those duties. Activities such as eating meals, engaging in non-essential conversations within the cockpit and non-essential communications between the cabin and cockpit crews, and reading publications not related to the proper conduct of the flight are not required for the safe operation of the aircraft.

(c) For the purposes of this section, critical phase of flight involves all ground operations involving taxi, takeoff and landing, and all other flight operations conducted below 10,000 feet, except cruise flight.

Note: Taxi is defined as "movement of an airplane under its own power on the surface of an airport."

I know any pilot when well-read this post will be more alert, and going to be more vigilant about any situational awareness inside your cockpit, so this especially critical at any activity during a critical phase of flight , take off , landing etc. Remember always fly safely all the time.