STEP CHANGE FOR SAFETY GLOBAL SHARING DEC 2013 - SAFE NAVIGATION | Page 26

Data gathered by another industry that relies heavily on HSSE critical staff maintaining
effective situational awareness suggests that “Task Distraction” may be one of the biggest
causal factors when personnel fail to monitor or observe data/information that may be
critical to fully appreciate the developing situation in a highly dynamic environment;

The U.S Federal Aviation Regulations require all airlines to have in place a policy to
minimise interruptions and distractions in the cockpit.
“No flight crewmember may engage in, nor may any pilot in command permit any activity
during a critical phase of flight which could distract any flight crewmember from the
performance of his or her duties or which could interfere in any way with the proper conduct
of those duties”
For the purpose of this requirement, an “activity” includes: “…, engaging in non-essential
conversation within the cockpit and non-essential communication between the cabin and
cockpit crews”
The term “critical phases of flight“ encompasses : “all ground operations involving taxi,
takeoff and landing, and all other flight operations below 10,000 feet, except cruise flight”
“Many airlines call this mandatory requirement the “Sterile Cockpit Rule”