My name is Levente, and I currently work as a part-time First Officer on the Twin Otter and Load master/ Flight attendant on the Dash 7 in the Northwest Territories.
I wanted to share with you, some pointers and advice on safety before you begin your piloting career in the North.
The majority of you will be moving up North for your first job and will likely work on the ramp for at least a year before you catch your full-time pilot positions.
Safety First, not Second
This three-letter acronym, CRM (Crew Resource Management) is your best friend.
You will be in situations where you are under time constraints and stress, and you will be counting on the entire crew to help each other out.
Working together and communicating, will maximize efficiency and ensure safety.
When we think of flying as a team sport, everyone feels supported.
Remember that the Captain is also a human and makes mistakes.
Speak up if something is wrong
There is a work culture “to get the job done.”
A high priority is to deliver cargo quickly. To do this, limits may be pushed, checklists are not used, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) are not always followed.
Based on my experiences, flying in the North brings about various challenging situations.
For instance, you might need to fly into a very remote community where the weather is at minimums or you might find that there is pressure to take less fuel so you can pack more cargo.
Make safety your NUMBER ONE priority regardless of what anyone says, to ensure your safety, and the wellbeing of all crew and passengers.
How exactly should I speak up?
At the end of the day, it is your job as a First Officer (FO) to speak up anytime something doesn’t feel right.
Here are a few phrases that I have used when needing to speak up:
“I’ve noticed that we haven’t gone through the checklist yet.” “I can get started on that right away Captain.” In this situation, you can point out what has not yet been done and show initiative to start it as a team player.
“Isn’t our level off altitude 3000 feet?” Posing a question can shed light on the issue at hand without necessarily placing blame on anyone. Questions can also open up room for discussions.
To Summarize the main points
I’ve learned that working as a pilot in the North is the most challenging and rewarding experience.
Even if you are a brand-new FO, you cannot be afraid of speaking up and ensuring that checklist and SOPs are followed.
You might find that some pilots become complacent if they know routes/destinations well. But don’t forget about safety and trust your gut and intuition if things don’t feel right.
Speak up by finding phrases that work for you and express your concerns. Best of luck, cheers!