Thu, Apr 01, 2010
Wants To Be Sure Pilots Are Paying Attention, Not
Distracted
ANN April 1st Special
Edition: The NTSB has issued a recommendation to the
FAA that it require all commercial airliners be equipped with
"seat shockers" for the pilot and co-pilot to avoid another
"distracted pilot" incident.
After Northwest Flight 188 overflew its destination by 150 miles
last October, the flight crew said they were "distracted" by a
discussion of airline policy while looking at their laptop
computers. NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman said the FAA should
require that all commercial airliners be equipped with a device
slaved to the airplane's FMS that will give pilots a slight, but
noticeable jolt through the seat as they approach their
destination.
"We're not sure how that's supposed to be done, but we're sure
it will increase safety," Hersman said. She said pilots could avoid
the jolt by pressing a button on the instrument panel every half
hour during flight.
The board also recommended that ATC
should have the ability to activate the system for any aircraft
that they are unable to contact for an extended period of time. "It
should work through the transponder code," Hersman
(pictured) said. "If the pilots don't respond to the radio,
then a controller should be able to wake them up."
Pilots unions immediately reacted to the recommendation by
saying the NTSB had no right to impugn their professionalism. "Our
pilots don't deserve a kick in the pants no matter what the
circumstances," said a spokesperson for one union not authorized to
speak to the media. While questioning the logistics of such a
system, NATCA members privately said (with a bit of a gleam in
their eye) they would welcome the ability to get a pilot's
attention.
Both Boeing and Airbus said such a system could add tens of
thousands to dollars to the cost of new airplanes, and retrofits
would be difficult. And, of course, the system would have to be
shut off during takeoff and landing to prevent interference with
the airplane's navigation equipment.
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