Mistakes In The Cockpit Found During Review Of Flight Operations Data

United Airlines pilots have gotten what is described as a "stern warning" from the airline after a review of flight operations data revealed mistakes in the cockpit which could have jeopardized the safety of passengers.

The safety memo was sent to pilots January 9, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. It said there were four specific "safety events and near misses" in the weeks leading up to the memo, including one in which a pilot had to execute an emergency pull-up maneuver to avoid impacting terrain. Another incident showed a flight that landed with fuel below the minimum required reserve.

The two-page memo reportedly did not provide specific flight information, but contained blunt language that said there was strong evidence of lapses in discipline, poor cockpit communication, and lack of coordination among flight crews.

A United spokesman told the paper that it is normal for the airline to pass along results of its safety reviews to its pilots. He said that the policy allows the airline "to adjust our actions when we see some of these potential issues," but would not offer any specifics.

The memo, however, said that the common thread of all of the incidents mentioned was that they were "preventable." It called for pilots return to well-established management principles that give every pilot the obligation to "speak up if safety is in question" and said that pilots "must also accept the input of their fellow crew members."

United's pilot union said that while the points in the memo are valid, there is also a "shorter and less robust training" period, as well as diminished respect for "captain's authority" and pressure for pilots to skirt rules.

One pilot told the paper that there had been growing concern about veteran pilots being paired with relatively new hires or those recently returning from furlough who may feel less free to make their concerns known.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.united.com