David OWENS

Senior Director Training Policy

The Golden Rules for Pilots

Moving from PNF to PM

1. Introduction
GOLDEN
RULES
On the 4th of November 2010 Qantas
flight QF32 experienced an uncon-
tained engine failure shortly after
takeoff from Singapore Changi
Airport. FOR PILOTS
This type of incident is so rare and
unpredictable that it does not have
an allocated procedure attached to XKP12371
it. The crew of the A380 was able
to cope with this event by applying
a set of simple basic rules, which
are referred to as the Golden Rules
for Pilots.

2. QANTAS QF32
Australian Transport Safety Bureau
Figure 1
(ATSB) Preliminary Report Released A380 in
3 December 2010 : Qantas livery

On 4 November 2010, at 0157 Universal Following a normal takeoff, the crew retracted the landing gear and flaps. The crew reported that,
Coordinated Time (UTC), an Airbus A380 while maintaining 250 kts in the climb and passing 7,000 ft above mean sea level, they heard two
aircraft, registered VH-OQA (OQA), being almost coincident ‘loud bangs’, followed shortly after by indications of a failure of the No 2 engine.
operated as Qantas flight 32, departed The crew advised Singapore Air Traffic Control of the situation and were provided with radar vectors
from runway 20 centre (20C) at Changi to a holding pattern. The crew undertook a series of actions before returning the aircraft to land at
Airport, Singapore for Sydney, New South Singapore. There were no reported injuries to the crew or passengers on the aircraft. A subsequent
Wales. On board the aircraft were five flight examination of the aircraft indicated that the No 2 engine had sustained an uncontained failure of the
crew, 24 cabin crew and 440 passengers Intermediate Pressure (IP) turbine disc. Sections of the liberated disc penetrated the left wing and the
(a total of 469 persons on board). left wing-to-fuselage fairing, resulting in structural and systems damage to the aircraft.

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 Safety

In various interviews and state-

ments the crew recognise that Crew
Resource Management (CRM) gave
them the ability to manage this chal-
lenging event. They have spoken of
“Synergy in Action”, the goal of
CRM, and effective teamwork. They
had plenty of fuel and therefore time
and options. They acknowledge the
impressive performance of the air-
craft and their training and knowl-
edge.

3. The Golden Rules

On the flight deck of QF32 that day
Captain David Evans:

“From a training point of view it

doesn’t matter what aeroplane
you are flying, airmanship has
to take over. In fact, Airbus has
some Golden Rules which we all
adhered to on the day – aviate,
navigate and communicate – in
that order.”
Royal Aeronautical Society,
6 December 2010 Figure 2
QF32 n°2 engine after it sustained an uncontained failure of the Intermediate Pressure (IP) turbine disc

So, what are the Golden Rules? Tasksharing should be adapted to MONITORING role, which is why
When should they be used and why? the prevailing situation (i.e. task- Airbus will be changing its docu-
sharing for hand flying or with the mentation over the next year to fully
The following four Golden Rules Auto Pilot engaged, task sharing for reflect and highlight the importance
for Pilots are applicable to all nor- normal operation or for abnormal / of Pilot Monitoring (PM). Wherever
mal operations and any abnormal or emergency conditions) and tasks you see PNF, think PM!
emergency situations: should be accomplished in accord-
ance with the following priorities: Both pilots must remain focused on
q Fly, navigate and communicate
their task as PF or PM, not allow any-
q Use the appropriate level 3.1.1 Fly thing to distract them. This is what we
of automation at all times mean by appropriate tasksharing.
The Pilot Flying (PF) must focus
q Understand the FMA on flying the aircraft by controlling Both pilots must maintain their Situ-
at all times and / or monitoring the pitch attitude, ational Awareness and immediately
q Take action if things bank angle, airspeed, thrust, sideslip, resolve any uncertainty as a crew.
do not go as expected. heading etc. to capture and maintain
the desired vertical and lateral flight 3.1.2 Navigate
path. Navigate can be summarized by the
3.1 Fly, navigate and communicate The Pilot Not Flying (PNF) must as- following three statements of situ-
In this order and with appropriate sist the Pilot Flying (PF) by actively ational awareness:
tasksharing. monitoring all flight parameters
q Know where you are
Just as the crew of QF 32 stated, the and actively directing the attention
number one priority in any event of the PF to any excessive deviation. q Know where you should be
and at all times is to fly the aircraft; Actively monitoring is a key mes- q Know where the weather,
this is the first Golden Rule. sage, we want to emphasize the terrain and obstacles are.

Safety first #15 February 2013 - 2/4

3.1.3 Communicate To sum up: q By PM taking action, again we
Effective crew communication in- q Monitor your FMA want to emphasize the PM func-
cludes communication between: tion and its essential role in flight
q Announce your FMA safety:
q The PF and the PM q Confirm your FMA • Questioning, and if that
q The flight crew and q Understand your FMA. is not enough
air traffic control
Finally, if any problems occur, refer • Challenging, and if that
q The flight crew and the cabin to the Golden Gule number 4. is still not enough
crew or any other crew on-board
• Taking-over.
q The flight crew and ground crew.
3.4 Take action if things
Effective communication enables do not go as expected
the sharing of goals and intentions Never assume that any crewmember
and enhances situational awareness. If the aircraft does not follow the is aware of a particular threat, error
To ensure positive communication, desired vertical or lateral flight or deviation and remember that inca-
the flight crew must use standard path or the selected target, the pacitation may be subtle; act before
phraseology and applicable callouts. crew should react without delay: it is too late.
q By PF changing the level
of automation:
3.2 Use the appropriate level
of automation at all times • From managed guidance
to selected guidance, or
To fly the aircraft the crew must
comply with `Golden Rule number • From selected guidance
2. On highly automated and inte- to manual flying; or
grated aircraft, several levels of au-
tomation are available to perform a
given task. The appropriate level of
automation depends on the situation
and task; taking into account the
forecast or actual weather, any mal-
function or crew incapacitation. Pi-
lot judgment prevails for the choice
of automation level, including the
4. Conclusion
choice to fly manually.
q Understand the implication of
1 Fly, navigate and communicate:
the intended level of automation
q Select the intended level In this order and with appropriate tasksharing
q Confirm the aircraft responds
as expected. 2 Use the appropriate level of
automation at all times
This leads us to Golden Rule number 3.
3 Understand the FMA at all times
3.3 Understand the FMA
at all times
4 Take action if things do not go
Any action on the FCU, or on the as expected
MCDU/KCCU, should be confirmed
by crosschecking the corresponding
annunciation or data on the PFD or
ND.
At all times, the PF and PM should Apply these Golden Rules, use them always and support each other.
be aware of: The rules have been proven to make a difference. Just like the crew
of Qantas QF 32, remember to always…
q The armed or engaged modes
Fly the Aircraft …….. Fly the Aircraft…… Fly the Aircraft
q The guidance targets set
q The aircraft response in terms of
attitude, speed and trajectory, etc
q Any mode transitions
or reversions.

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