Most colleagues, most of the time, will try and be helpful in such circumstances, particularly when close knit airline teams are involved. However, it’s important to emphasise that agreeing to help other colleagues isn’t always the right decision. There are clear implications regarding liability if a non-operating crew member carries out safety of flight duties, such as operating doors or undertaking walk round pre-flight checks, and something was to go wrong. However, in contrast, there is nothing to stop an airline asking a non-operating crew member, who happens to be on board for positioning for example, to be formally called in on duty to help the operating crew. CHIRP believes that the flight should be able to be operated safely with the assigned operating crew on board and not need the assistance of positioning crew. This report was a good example of how normalisation of deviance can erode safety margins. Non-operating crew trying to be helpful will, over time, result in operations shifting towards non-standard or procedures contrary to regulations. And if this happens, where now is the boundary?
The airline was not contacted at the behest of the reporter.
