WHAT WOULD YOUR CREW DO?


The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has stressed the critical importance of operating with a clean wing. Even a light glaze of ice is warned against. Basically, any sort of ice/snow/slush on the wings is a no-go.


Now consider this report from the fall 2009 issue of CHIRP Feedback (Issue No. 33, Cabin Crew), which ought to cause more than a few jaws to drop, given both the flight and cabin crew’s nonchalance. CHIRP stands for Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Program. It is the voluntary reporting system in the UK, similar to ARS in the US.


Here is the report of interest, filed by an off duty cabin crewmember:


“I was flying as a passenger on another (non-UK European Union) airline. My company has a policy that if it is snowing, all aircraft must be de-iced prior to departure.


“On the outbound flight, we were boarding during a light snow shower and no snow had accumulated on the wings, yet the captain informed us that we would have a delayed departure while we were waiting to be de-iced.


“However, on the inbound flight the aircraft arrived during a heavy snow flurry, which contin- ued whilst we boarded. It continued to snow and ceased shortly before the front and rear doors were closed. We then started to taxi with snow on the wings.


“I was three rows behind the overwing exit and noticed that the [left] wing surfaces were covered in snow.


“I presumed that based on my experiences with my company and also on the outbound flight that there would be a delay while we were de-iced. After the safety demonstration, I asked the SCCM [Senior Cabin Crew Member] if it was normal to leave without being de-iced while there was snow on the wings? To which he/she immediately


replied without looking at the wing, ‘The captain says it’s OK’ (or words to that effect).


“We shortly afterwards entered the runway, accelerated and took-off with the vast majority of the snow remaining coated to the wing. The flight proceeded with no problems although ice remained on the wing in certain areas (see photograph taken 20 minutes into the flight). The wing was visibly not clear of snow/ice with approximately 10 minutes to landing.


“I was concerned that the SCCM did not respond to a flight safety concern from a passenger.


“It might also be worth noting that the inbound flight was early and we pushed back approximately 10-15 minutes early; this meant that sufficient time was available to de-ice without picking up a delay.


“CHIRP Comment: This report and accompanying photographs were passed to the operator concerned, who confirmed that they operate a ‘clear wing’ policy and expressed concern that the flight departed with visible contamination on the wing. The reported response from the SCCM did not appear to take the concerns of a passenger seriously and raises the question as to whether the flight crew were informed of the contamination. It is imperative that if cabin crew see or are advised of any form of contamination on the wing this information is passed to the captain as soon as possible.


17 Surface Contamination


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