A300 pilot is observed by FAA air carrier inspector not wearing shoulder harnesses during takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	706732
Time
Date	200606
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
ASRS Report	706732
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

It was brought to my attention this morning after talking to my chief pilot that I am being investigated by the FAA. The incident revolves around a flight in june with an inspector seated in the jumpseat. As we took the runway for takeoff; he asked if I was going to install my shoulder harness. I told him that I no longer wore them for takeoff or lndgs since the reference to have them on was removed from the operations manual. We discussed the subject briefly sometime during the climb out and it was not mentioned again. I was not trying to be flippant or in any way disrespectful with the inspector. I am 6 ft 5 inches and the harness/inertial reel/lock have been cumbersome and a distraction at times during our 2 most critical phases of flight. When it was removed from the operations manual I took advantage of the opportunity to stop wearing them during takeoff and landing. I; of course; utilize them whenever we are encountering turbulence to include takeoff and lndgs.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A300 PLT IS OBSERVED BY FAA ACR INSPECTOR NOT WEARING SHOULDER HARNESSES DURING TKOF.

Narrative: IT WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTN THIS MORNING AFTER TALKING TO MY CHIEF PLT THAT I AM BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FAA. THE INCIDENT REVOLVES AROUND A FLT IN JUNE WITH AN INSPECTOR SEATED IN THE JUMPSEAT. AS WE TOOK THE RWY FOR TKOF; HE ASKED IF I WAS GOING TO INSTALL MY SHOULDER HARNESS. I TOLD HIM THAT I NO LONGER WORE THEM FOR TKOF OR LNDGS SINCE THE REF TO HAVE THEM ON WAS REMOVED FROM THE OPS MANUAL. WE DISCUSSED THE SUBJECT BRIEFLY SOMETIME DURING THE CLBOUT AND IT WAS NOT MENTIONED AGAIN. I WAS NOT TRYING TO BE FLIPPANT OR IN ANY WAY DISRESPECTFUL WITH THE INSPECTOR. I AM 6 FT 5 INCHES AND THE HARNESS/INERTIAL REEL/LOCK HAVE BEEN CUMBERSOME AND A DISTR AT TIMES DURING OUR 2 MOST CRITICAL PHASES OF FLT. WHEN IT WAS REMOVED FROM THE OPS MANUAL I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO STOP WEARING THEM DURING TKOF AND LNDG. I; OF COURSE; UTILIZE THEM WHENEVER WE ARE ENCOUNTERING TURB TO INCLUDE TKOF AND LNDGS.

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.