Basic Concepts — Page 16, Lesson 26

I want to walk you through the core responsibilities of the pilot-in-command — the person who is ultimately accountable for every aspect of a flight. This list comes straight from the regulatory framework that governs professional aviation, and every item here is a legal duty, not just a good idea. Let's start with the most fundamental one. The pilot-in-command is responsible for the safe operation of the aircraft and the safety of its occupants and cargo. That responsibility has a very precise start and end point. It begins when he or she enters the aircraft with the intention of flying, or when he or she first signs the flight documents — whichever comes first. It ends when the post-flight documents are completed and signed. So the moment you put your signature on that paperwork, you are legally on duty, and you stay on duty until the paperwork after the flight is closed out. Now, subject only to that overriding safety responsibility, the pilot-in-command must act to the benefit of the company's commercial advantage. Notice the order — safety comes first, commercial interests come second. You are allowed to consider the company's business needs, but never at the expense of safety. The pilot-in-command has the authority to give all commands he or she deems necessary for securing the safety of the aircraft and the persons or property on board. That means you can order anything — a delay, a diversion, an evacuation — and that order must be followed. You also have the authority to disembark any person or any part of the cargo that, in your opinion, may represent a potential hazard to safety. If a passenger is behaving erratically or a piece of cargo looks suspicious, you can remove them. You must not allow a person to be carried who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that safety is likely to be endangered. This is not a judgment call about whether they're drunk — it's about whether their condition could compromise the safety of the flight. If it could, they do not fly. You have the right to refuse transportation of inadmissible passengers, deportees, or persons in custody if their carriage poses any risk to safety. Even if the airline has accepted them as a booking, you can say no. You must ensure that all passengers are briefed on the location of emergency exits and the use of relevant safety and emergency equipment. That's the safety demonstration you see before every take-off — it's your legal responsibility to make sure it happens. You must ensure that all operational procedures and checklists are complied with, in accordance with the company's Operations Manual. The Operations Manual is the bible for how that airline runs its flights, and you are required to follow it. You must ensure that flight duration or duty times do not exceed the company maximum. Fatigue management is a legal limit, not a suggestion. You must decide whether or not to accept the aircraft with unserviceabilities allowed by the company Minimum Equipment List — the MEL. The MEL tells you what systems can be broken and still be legal to fly, but the final decision to accept that aircraft is yours. You must ensure that the aircraft and any required equipment is serviceable. If something is broken and it's not on the MEL, the aircraft does not go. You must ensure that aircraft refuelling is supervised, with particular attention to four things: the correct grade and amount of fuel, fuel water checks, fire safety precautions, and checking that filler caps are correctly replaced after refuelling. Putting the wrong fuel in an aircraft can be catastrophic, and a loose filler cap can cause fuel starvation or contamination. You must ensure that the aircraft mass and balance is within the calculated limits for the operating conditions. If the centre of gravity is out of range, the aircraft may not be controllable. You must confirm that the aircraft's performance will enable it to safely complete the proposed flights. That means checking take-off distance, climb gradient, landing distance — all of it — for the actual conditions on the day. You must not permit any crew member to perform any activity during take-off, initial climb, final approach, and landing except those duties required for the safe operation of the aircraft. Those phases are called the 'sterile cockpit' — no non-essential conversation, no reading, no paperwork. Finally, you must ensure that whenever the aircraft is taxiing, taking off, or landing, or whenever you consider it advisable — for example during turbulent conditions — all passengers are properly secured in their seats and all cabin baggage is stowed in the approved stowage. Loose baggage becomes a projectile in turbulence or an emergency. That figure shows the causes of accidents, and it's a good reminder of why these duties exist — most accidents trace back to a breakdown in one of these responsibilities.