As políticas de operação de empresas aéreas brasileiras quanto a utilização da automação e sua influência na manutenção da proficiência técnica dos tripulantes de voo

Abstract

Airline operational policies define how, when and under what conditions automation should be used. However, there is little research showing the discourse contained in these policies and how they are interpreted and implemented by the pilots. The objective of this work was to analyse the discourse on automation and maintenance of flight proficiency in two Brazilian airlines and how their pilots translate them into operational practices. Evidence from document analysis and interviews with four first officers indicate that high levels of automation are constantly encouraged. However, companies differ on how and how often crew members must practice to maintain manual flying proficiency. The crew of the company that does not openly encourage manual flying are more hesitant and try to maintain their proficiency only when weather conditions are favorable and in the presence of only a selected number of experienced captains. Pilots of the company that openly encourages the practice of manual flying, on the other hand, feel more comfortable maintaining their proficiency as the practice is common among their peers. We conclude that operational policies for the use of automation and maintenance of proficiency in manual flight that explicitly encourage manual flight create a more favorable environments for pilots to maintain their proficiency more consistently.