Deal With Distractions

Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at 09:29 AM ET

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We all love our pets, but unless you know your pet will be well behaved and not present a distraction, it might be best left at home.

Key Takeaways:

Cockpit distractions pose a critical safety hazard, frequently leading to severe aviation accidents by diverting pilot attention from essential flight tasks and instrument monitoring.
Distractions can arise from diverse sources, including aircraft malfunctions, air traffic control communications, and passenger interactions, underscoring the imperative to always prioritize "flying the airplane."
Effective strategies to mitigate distractions include adopting "sterile cockpit" procedures, thoroughly briefing passengers on flight expectations, proactive pre-flight planning, and prioritizing aircraft control over troubleshooting or non-critical communications.

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Many of life’s distractions are enjoyable, but cockpit distractions can have tragic consequences. For years, the NTSB has made “Eliminate Distractions” one of their Ten Most Wanted safety improvements.

In Ernest Gann’s Fate is the Hunter, he describes a night approach as a DC-2 First Officer while Captain Ross lit matches in front of Gann’s nose to distract him. Ross later made the famous statement, “Anyone can do this job when things are going right. In this business, we play for keeps.”