 |
37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
An FAA inspector occupied the first officer seat during the first officer's lavatory break and said the captain need not use oxygen but later cautioned against his oxygen mask policy.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 649921 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200503 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zid.artcc |
| State Reference | IN |
| Altitude | msl single value : 38000 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zid.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A319 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Qualification | pilot : atp |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 220 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 649921 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Consequence | faa : reviewed incident with flight crew |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | FAA Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | FAA |
Narrative:
During cruise (FL380); 1 hour 20 mins prior to landing at dca; the crew decided on a bathroom break. In jumpseat was an FAA safety operations inspector. After the first officer exited the flight deck; the inspector occupied the first officer's seat uncommanded; and the captain proceeded to use oxygen. Upon doing so; the inspector said there was no need to use oxygen. Captain then removed his mask. When first officer returned; he asked inspector twice; 'if you'll get up; I'll get in.' the inspector remained seated looking at the instruments. At that time; the captain got up and proceeded to the cabin. The first officer then took the only seat available -- the captain's seat. The inspector said that he disagreed with this; but that the first officer should stay there until captain returned. The first officer put on captain's oxygen mask; but again inspector insisted that he not use it. At end of flight; the inspector's debriefing was to mention the above situation. He said to follow policy; and that next time there might be a less understanding inspector in the cockpit.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: AN FAA INSPECTOR OCCUPIED THE FO SEAT DURING THE FO'S LAVATORY BREAK AND SAID THE CAPT NEED NOT USE OXYGEN BUT LATER CAUTIONED AGAINST HIS OXYGEN MASK POLICY.
Narrative: DURING CRUISE (FL380); 1 HR 20 MINS PRIOR TO LNDG AT DCA; THE CREW DECIDED ON A BATHROOM BREAK. IN JUMPSEAT WAS AN FAA SAFETY OPS INSPECTOR. AFTER THE FO EXITED THE FLT DECK; THE INSPECTOR OCCUPIED THE FO'S SEAT UNCOMMANDED; AND THE CAPT PROCEEDED TO USE OXYGEN. UPON DOING SO; THE INSPECTOR SAID THERE WAS NO NEED TO USE OXYGEN. CAPT THEN REMOVED HIS MASK. WHEN FO RETURNED; HE ASKED INSPECTOR TWICE; 'IF YOU'LL GET UP; I'LL GET IN.' THE INSPECTOR REMAINED SEATED LOOKING AT THE INSTS. AT THAT TIME; THE CAPT GOT UP AND PROCEEDED TO THE CABIN. THE FO THEN TOOK THE ONLY SEAT AVAILABLE -- THE CAPT'S SEAT. THE INSPECTOR SAID THAT HE DISAGREED WITH THIS; BUT THAT THE FO SHOULD STAY THERE UNTIL CAPT RETURNED. THE FO PUT ON CAPT'S OXYGEN MASK; BUT AGAIN INSPECTOR INSISTED THAT HE NOT USE IT. AT END OF FLT; THE INSPECTOR'S DEBRIEFING WAS TO MENTION THE ABOVE SIT. HE SAID TO FOLLOW POLICY; AND THAT NEXT TIME THERE MIGHT BE A LESS UNDERSTANDING INSPECTOR IN THE COCKPIT.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.