Air India’s recent cockpit violation and the subsequent explanation sought by the Indian regulator have made the airline emphasize the need to maintain a sterile cockpit during crucial stages of the flight. This is in response to the incident in which an Air India pilot invited a friend to the cockpit, violating safety procedures.

Ordered to maintain a safe cockpit environment

Air India has reminded its pilots to maintain a safe cockpit environment following the recent incident of cockpit violation on a Dubai-Delhi flight. The airline issued an order recently asking pilots to refrain from any non-essential activities during crucial stages of the flight to maintain safe operations. Hindustan Times quotes from the order, which stated,

“Recent incidents have highlighted that there have been instances of a lapse in maintaining a sterile cockpit, which resulted in avoidable errors posing flight safety hazards. This reinforced the importance of maintaining a sterile cockpit from the start of push back until 10,000 feet and again until engine shutdown, in order to keep the crew focused on the dynamic and rapidly changing environment and to enhance situational awareness.”

Air India Airbus A319
Photo: Nicolas Economou/Shutterstock

Get the latest aviation news straight to your inbox: Sign up for our newsletters today.

The airline added how reports of unsafe cockpit environment reflect a lack of discipline and crew resource management, casting a negative light on the airline and also creating unsafe situations. It also warned that “any breach of this (maintaining sterile cockpit) will result in appropriate levels of administrative deterrent and correction.”

The incident that led to the order

An Air India cabin crew member complained that on February 27th, on a flight from Dubai to Delhi, the captain asked to make the cockpit “appear welcoming, warm and comfortable, as though he was preparing his living room for a lady friend.”

When reports of the incident surfaced, India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), asked Air India to deroster the entire crew of the flight. The airline then issued a directive asking its employees to report all safety-related matters within 12 hours of the incident.

Air India A320 Kathmandu approach
Photo: TravellingNepal / Shutterstock

Check out more Indian aviation news here.

The DGCA also issued a show cause notice to Air India and its CEO, Campbell Wilson asking why the incident was not reported on time, which was a direct violation of the regulator's instructions.

Importance of sterile cockpit

While pilots need to be vigilant throughout the flight, certain stages of the journey require more focus. During these times, the need for a ‘sterile cockpit’ becomes absolutely important from a safety point of view.

Rules for ‘sterile cockpit’ forbid any unnecessary actions or conversations taking place in the cockpit during the most critical parts of the flights, such as the taxi, take-off and approach and landing phases, and when operating under 10,000 feet.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner cockpit
Photo: Maxene Huiyu/Shutterstock

These rules may vary based on each airline’s specific requirements, but the general principles remain the same. Those interested in finding out more can read Simple Flying’s detailed write-up on why sterile cockpit matters.

What are your views on this? Please leave a comment below.

Source: Hindustan Times

  • Air India Tile
    Air India
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    AI/AIC
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
    Year Founded:
    1946
    Alliance:
    Star Alliance
    CEO:
    Campbell Wilson
    Country:
    India
    Region:
    Asia