andrewnicol.net - blog

Cockpit/Crew Resource Management

Here is the video clip that Trevor the A320 pilot sent me.

We were chatting about how easy it is to end up in the right seat (first officers seat) of a jet overseas nowdays and that a day is potentially coming when pilots end up in the right seat without having ever flown a small plane. A concern is that they become too inexperienced to speak up with authority when needed.

Speaking up is not an issue for this first office (John Wayne). Trevor called this CRM the old way...

Yesterday I went flying, the guy in the right hand seat (in my case the instructor) was sick, so I did some rather challenging forced landings on my own. I also found out that the aero club will ditch the Cessna 152's as soon as the next Alpha arrives. I guess I wont finish my PPL in the 152 after all.

Fly by Wire

Boarding your plane and taking a seat next to an Air NZ pilot wouldn't excite most of you, but it was one of the most interesting flights I have taken. I sat next to Trevor an Airbus A320 captain and pilot trainer as he was being repositioned back to Auckland.

Trevor has been flying for 40 years and you can tell straight away he is an experienced and safe flyer. In his 40 years flying he has never had a major incident, never had an engine failure, nor forced landing. This is as much a testament to aircraft maintenance as it is to his attitude and skill.

Once we established that I was on my way to my PPL (so knew an incredible amount about flying), we talked Navaids, GPS, airports, handling of 737 vs A320, maintenance, CRM (Crew Resource Management), industry changes, ATPL training, the airworks accident last year, sims and pilot attitudes and leadership.

Interesting Facts

• Wellington Airport was not closed on Wednesday. Trevor landed his Airbus, it's just the ground crew couldn't work in the wind.
• Dunedin Airport is the hardest (=riskiest) airport in the country to land a jet in.
• Airbus A320's self trim (Makes them heaps easier to fly)
• At FL30 (30,000ft) and engine failure in a 737 required an immediate and positive from the pilot to stop it going over on it's back. An A320 will re trim, and put the plan into a descent.
• Wherever possible they take off with reduced thrust to save the engine life. In the A320 they take off with the cabin pressurization off, which again saves engine life.
• Great pilots come as a result of great attitudes.

Disjointed implications

• The media never give you the whole story.
• I'd rather fly in a A320 (or a next generation 737)
• If reduced thrust take-offs improve engine life, then to what other areas or things could this principal apply?
• Being great at anything, sport, flying, spirituality or leadership is all about ATTITUDE.

Trevor said he was going to email me a funny clip about CRM. If he does I will post it here.

Just put $10 gas in thanks...

Last week I filled my personal tanks a little and kind of like just putting $10 gas in your car you know it is not fill completely but it is enough to keep you on the road.

You see I spent the majority of my week on a 'focus week'. I used the time to think about strategy, read, go flying and clear (rearrange) my head. I finished the week with the Leadership Summit and now I feel like I need another week to process what I heard.

Patrick Lencioni - Silos, Politics and Turf Wars

Quote
We need to create Thematic Goals. Goals that are
  - Sinlge
  - Qualitative
  - Temporary
  - Shared across the organization

Lesson
A thematic goal is different to the long term vision. It is 3 to 12 months and covers the whole organization. The key question is "What is the most important thing for us to accomplish in the next ___ months?"

Wayne Cordeiro - Dead Leader Running

Quote
Know what fills and drains your tanks
The principal of fulcrum

Lesson
I need to be clear about what builds me up and what drains me. Often when life gets really busy, I am drained because I am not doing the things that fill me up.

I also loved the illustration of fulcrum. I am sure I will use this with my team at some point.

Bill Hybels - The power of clarity

Quote
If the trumpet doesn't sound a clear sound, who will get ready for battle?

A life spent in any endeavor other than a life spent on the transformation of humans hearts is not a life worth living.

Lesson
Keep the message clear. I am passionate about seeing changed lives and hearts. A timely reminder.