06 May 2013, 06:01 PM IST
It is a move that one saw coming. With some instances of pilots acting irresponsibly and endangering the lives of passengers, it was a foregone conclusion that the DGCA would crack down on them sooner rather than later.
News that the regulator may ask airlines to install cameras in cockpits will evoke mixed reactions. While pilots are chaffing at it, saying it infringes on their privacy, struggling airlines will wonder how to install cameras in all their planes. Passengers, of course, will welcome it saying it is like cracking the whip on a recalcitrant and petulant child who refuses to learn.
The latest report of pilot lapse would have left most people shocked and shaking their head in astonishment. Two pilots allegedly allowed two air hostesses to sit in their seats. In the process, say reports, one of the stewardesses accidentally turned off the auto-pilot, forcing the pilots to rush back to their seats. While the veracity of this report needs to be confirmed as it seems too outlandish, the fact remains that there have been instances of pilots landing at airports without ATC clearance, and almost colliding with planes taking off. It's obvious what is wrong – there is no fear of the regulator or of their airline. These, coupled with lax training standards and nepotism have led pilots to behave in any manner they think fit.
And that's why crew resource management is of utmost importance. There have been instances of co-pilots refusing to fly with certain commanders. Many come with different attitudes and temperaments where professionalism suffers. There have even been shocking instances of cockpit and cabin crew coming to blows in mid-air.
Ego issues, coupled with age differences between the commander and the co-pilot can lead to a deadly cocktail. Extreme cases of animosity between pilots have become part of aviation folklore. In one case, two senior pilots of an airline were flying a B737. Both refused to speak to each other and when the commander forgot to put his landing gears down, the co-pilot kept mum. The plane landed on its belly, damaging it. Such lack of teamwork and foolishness are unpardonable.
In India, particularly, obsequiousness and favoritism are common. The commander is treated like a demi-god and often behaves like one. This can make co-pilots lapse into silence and simply be on-lookers. Some say it is part of the Asian culture where people don't speak up in front of a senior. Also, when the commander holds the key to a co-pilot's future, some prefer to be quiet. That's why it's so important to pay emphasis to psychological training wherein barriers of caste and creed are broken down. Regional groupisms are known to have infiltrated cockpits too.
Aviation, unlike other sectors, does not forgive mistakes. The costs of indiscipline are too high, the lives lost too many. While having cameras in the cockpit may seem extreme, the fact is that being a pilot comes with immense responsibility and maturity. Some forget that.
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