AV I AT I O N
ASK THE PILOT It all seems like a bit of fun until somebody gets hurt. Enter the captain…
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am sure that many of you, at some point, will have read media articles about how well paid pilots are. I can neither confirm nor deny this as it depends on who you fly for, what you fly and where you are based. However, as background, I thought you might be interested to know more about the responsibilities and authority of the captain. First and foremost, the captain is legally responsible for the safety and security of the aircraft and all persons on board. Safety throughout the aviation world is paramount, which is why air travel has earned the reputation of being one of the safest forms of transport. If, at any point, the captain has any concerns in this regard, their decision is final and cannot be overridden. Before a flight departs, the captain must be satisfied that the aircraft is technically fit to fly, the weather is suitable for the flight and there is sufficient fuel to get to the intended destination. Additionally, the captain has to ensure that air traffic control knows which route is being flown, that the aircraft has been loaded correctly, that security has been checked and that all the customs procedures have been complied with. Once these tasks are complete, the captain will sign two pieces of paper to confirm they are happy to operate the flight.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
Another area of responsibility is to ensure that no person’s behaviour while on board endangers the flight or any other person. In this regard, both verbal and physical abuse are wholly OCTOBER 2021
unacceptable and against the law. This includes anyone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A common situation I have dealt with several times is a passenger refusing to fasten their seatbelt, or to cease using their mobile phone when asked to do so. Again, it is illegal to disobey an order from the crew that relates to the safety of the flight and a warning to that effect, in my experience, resolves the situation very quickly.
IN SAFE HANDS
There are too many responsibilities to detail in this article, but it goes without saying that throughout the flight, the captain is ultimately responsible for any actions or decisions that are taken. It is in an emergency situation where this is most relevant. In these circumstances, the captain must use their skills, and those of the crew, to ensure the outcome is never in doubt. As you might expect, these situations can be highly pressurised and for the captain carry enormous responsibility. Returning to my comments at the start of this article referring to pay, we say we are not paid for the 99 per cent of the time when everything goes to plan but for the 1 per cent when something unexpected or challenging occurs and you are safely returned to Mother Earth to live another day. I am often asked, “Do you ever feel the weight of all that responsibility on your shoulders when you are flying?” The answer I give is, “No, we are so well trained that it’s just another day in the office.” BTI business traveller india
