STERILE COCKPIT CONCEPT

Col. James M. Rushing, Commander
Jan. 2003

Based on our continued propensity to taxi into fixed objects with CAP corporate aircraft, effective immediately Tennessee Wing will implement a mandatory sterile cockpit concept. There will be no conversations between crew members (all persons on board) that are not necessary to the safe conduct of the flight from engine startup until the flight is safely established at cruising altitude. The same procedure will apply from decent for landing until engine shutdown.

There will be no use of cell phones in the aircraft after engine startup and until after engine shutdown with two exceptions. Cell phone use will be allowed in an emergency when radio communications are unavailable. Cell phone use will be permitted by the PIC to pick up an IFR clearance at a remote airport where a radio communications outlet is not available for picking up clearance only after the PIC has secured the aircraft in a safe parking spot and ensured that it will not move while his or her attention is diverted. Failure to adhere to this procedure could result in the grounding of the entire flight crew.