Bombardier Safety Standdown 2013: Build Cross-checking and Pilot-monitoring Skills

Recognizing the value of crew monitoring and cross checking skills, the industry is poised to roll out the first edition of a comprehensive training guide to teach pilot monitoring skills. At the Bombardier Safety Standdown, NTSB member Robert Sumwalt characterized “a lack of good cross checking and pilot monitoring skills” as one of the greatest threats we face today.” A former USAir pilot, Sumwalt said 20 percent of the errors his old airline experienced and some two thirds of the undesired aircraft states would never have occurred if the crews had been properly monitoring the aircraft. “Humans are not naturally good monitors, but their skills can be improved,” he said. “And we must get better at monitoring or it’s going to bite us.”