Aviation: Flight crew
Safety concerns raised regarding flight crew fatigue
Reported concern regarding the framework to monitor and manage medical issues in flight crew
The concern related to pilots not receiving bi-annual training and new pilots endorsed without completing all mandatory items.
The reporter expressed a safety concern related to the methods of advising employees of amendments to flying procedures.
The reporter advised that revised technical information was sent to flight crew using email which is outside the regulatory framework of Flight Standing Orders, raising doubt as to the validity of the information. The information related to amendments to the terrain ‘escape procedures’ (routing and altitude requirements, in the event of performance loss [engine failure] /emergency descent [depressurisation]).
Reporter comment: This flight crew member is unsure if an operation was conducted with incorrect documentation, as e-mail is not part of the operational documentation suite.
The concern related to controller reluctance to issue clearance for IFR instrument approaches at night.
The concern related to the lack of accountability shown by the airline’s crewing department when calling flight crew in on a rostered day off.
The concern related to the fatigue being experienced by flight crew when they are rostered to fly on consecutive days with multiple sector flights.
The concern related to fatigue being experienced by the flight crew due to the rostering system in place.
The concern related to the pre-flight walk around inspection conducted by the operator’s flight crew
The concern related to the delay by CASA in the introduction of a fatigue risk management system for Australian operators to May 2018.
