Consistent with Embraer’sairplane operations manual, the Alliance Airline's pre-flight procedure required flight crew to unnecessarily initially set the speed knob to ‘manual’. This increased the risk of the aircraft departing with the incorrect speed mode selected.
Alliance Airlines has amended its E190 SOPMs to remove any reference to setting manual speed during pre-flight procedures. Additionally, any reference to the practice of the right-seat pilot setting manual speed and 80 knots during the after‑shutdown flow will be discontinued, with recurrent training and check events to reinforce compliance with correct procedure.
The ATSB is satisfied that these actions adequately address the safety issue.
Response by Alliance Airlines
To mitigate unintentionally departing in manual speeds, Alliance E190 SOPM’s Pre-flight procedures have been amended so the left seat pilot selects FMS mode instead of manual mode. That is, FMS speed mode will be the default for every departure.
Additionally, and although not a documented procedure, any historical reference to the practice of the right-seat pilot setting manual speed and 80 knots during the after-shutdown flow will be discontinued. Recurrent training and check events will reinforce compliance with correct procedure.
