THE CROSSCHECK

THE CROSS CHECK

The Origin of the X Check.

There are elements of an airplane which operation is light in importance and others which importance is basic or key.

Turning off a galley light is not the same as arming a ramp, and putting on the logo light is not the same as extending the flaps.

For this reason, in some procedures we can let a single crew member execute them and make sure of them, or that one crew member requests it, another does it but there is no way to ensure that the procedure has been completed, and yet in others it is mandatory.

Not only that both of you look at it together, but that you both look at it independently and agree on the result.

And that is done through the famous cross check.
Both execute, both make sure, and in language both tell the other that they have done it.

An example.-

PF: Pilot flying (the one who flies the plane at that moment).
PM: Pilot Monitoring. The one with the radio, reads the checklists and monitors the operation of the other pilot.

In the landing gear lowering operation (Landing Gear L/G) the conversation is approximately like this:

PF: Landing Gear down
PM: Landing Gear Down (he says it and lowers it)
Once down and with the correct indication (3 green lights is usual)
PM: Down 3 green.
Before landing the landing checklist always carry the L/G item
….

-L/G?

• PF: Down 3 green
• PM: Down 3 green.
  In other words, it is requested and confirmed when lowering down.
• The indication is confirmed. And it is confirmed again in the checklist.
• Doors and ramps have a similar procedure (no checklist in many companies) where the 2 crew members do an independent check and then agree (or disagree) that it is done correctly.
• The most modern reason for this system is in the TEM (threat and error management) which maintains that the error cannot be eliminated, but that safety nets can be put in place for it.
• One of the most important is to verbalize, the other is the cross check and the last one is the checklists.
• And with the early risers, the multi-jumps, the nocturnal ones and the jet lag… … they are all necessary.
• In the meantime, Find peaceful skies. Enrique. Qrewmentor Team

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