How Can Pilots Train to Apply Procedures Better?

The way in which a pilot applies procedures is a vital behavioural Evidence-Based Training competency.

When application of procedures is not properly emphasized in training and operations management, or not embedded in a pilot’s normal way of conducting operations, the risk of complacency developing among the flight crew grows.

As an example, the crew may get used to making shortcuts or incorporate other practices that are not the Flight Department’s standard procedures. In an environment that is ideally governed by a Safety Management System (SMS), the standard procedures should be defined in accordance with risk assessment efforts.

Ultimately, a professional cockpit environment is always supported by an effective application of procedures. ICAO Doc 9995 (Manual of Evidence-based training) defines this competency as ‘identifying and applying procedures in accordance with published operating instructions and applicable regulations, using the appropriate knowledge’ with the following notable behaviours:

• The crew identifies the source of operating instructions.
• The crew follows Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) unless a higher degree of safety dictates an appropriate deviation.
• The crew identifies and follows all operating instructions in a timely manner.
• The crew correctly operates aircraft systems and associated equipment.
• The crew complies with applicable regulations.
• The crew applies relevant procedural knowledge.

Application of Procedures: Best Practices

BOP Compliance: SOPs are recognized as fundamental to the safety of aviation operations, yet accidents and incidents continue to occur either as a direct result of, or related to, flight crews’ failure to comply with them – specifically during critical phases of flight, according to FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 120-71B.

AC120-71B deals with SOPs and pilot monitoring duties for flight deck crew members, and affirms that the implementation of any procedure as an SOP is most effective when:

-    The procedure is appropriate to the situation
-    The procedure is practical to use
-    Crew members understand the reasons for the procedure
-    Pilot flying and pilot monitoring duties are clearly delineated
-    Effective training is conducted
-    Adherence to the standard is emphasized by flight crews, and reinforced by instructors, check pilots, and managers alike
-    Crew members are aware of the potential risks/hazards if SOPs are not followed.

“Collaboration can improve the effectiveness of SOPs,” says AC120-71B. “Partners in the collaboration could include representatives of the aircraft manufacturer, pilots having previous experience with the aircraft or with the type of operations planned by the operator, training organizations, and representatives from the FAA.”

Avoid Distractions: The AC also notes that several of the distractions or disruptions that occur on the ramp area can be reduced by aircraft operators through training of support personnel in which SOPs play a key role.

“Operators should ensure that ground support personnel who communicate directly with flight crews are familiar with the procedures used on the flight deck and the need to avoid interrupting the crew during a checklist flow,” the AC clarifies.

“Persons entering the flight deck to talk to the crew, or contacting the crew via interphone, should make their presence known and unless an emergency exists, refrain from interrupting any flight deck activity or talking to the crew until the crew indicates that they have completed their task and acknowledges their presence.”

Monitor and Cross-Check: These can be the last barrier against accidents or incidents because detecting an error or unsafe situation may break the chain of events leading to an event. When monitoring and cross-checking is absent, errors and unsafe situations can go undetected, with negative consequences for safety sharply increasing.

“Flight crews must use monitoring to help them identify, prevent, and mitigate events that may impact safety margins,” suggests AC120-71B.

“Therefore, it is imperative that operators establish operational policy and procedures on pilot monitoring duties, including monitoring, and implement effective training for flight crews and instructors on the task of monitoring to help the pilot monitoring to expeditiously identify, prevent, and mitigate events that may impact safety margins.”

Flight guidance and flight control systems training for the monitoring pilot should therefore include an assessment of the pilot’s understanding of the systems and what will happen next given a certain set of flight circumstances.

The training should incorporate Flight Management System degradations and failures, operational consequences requiring flight crew action, known flight guidance and flight control system-behavioral challenges, and environmental/circumstantial traps that are known to lead to flightpath-related errors.

Thus, it is obvious as to why ‘Application of Procedures’ is a core competency that should be thoroughly thought through, emphasised, and developed under the EBT program of a Business Aviation operator. The positive outcomes of doing so are clear.