Authority, Duties and Responsibilities of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC)

2.4Authority, Duties and Responsibilities of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC)

The PIC shall be responsible for the proper execution of his/her duties that:

are related to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants; and specified in the instructions and procedures in the operations manual;

comply with the relevant requirements of the operator’s occurrence reporting schemes and Reg (EU) N° 376/2014;

comply with all flight and duty time limitations (FDTL) and rest requirements applicable to their activities.

When undertaking duties for more than one operator:

Maintain his/her individual records regarding flight and duty times and rest periods as referred to in applicable FDTL requirements; and provide each operator with the data needed to schedule activities in accordance with the applicable FDTL requirements.

The crewmember shall not perform duties on an aircraft:

For health, drug and alcohol limitations refer to chapter "Crew Health Precautions".

If the medical requirements required for maintaining the required medical certificate are not met due to sickness or injury.

If he/she is in any doubt of being able to accomplish his/her assigned duties. Or

If he/she knows or suspects that he/she is suffering from fatigue or feels otherwise unfit, to the extent that the flight may be endangered.

The PIC is the operator’s legal representative during an assigned duty.

One flight crewmember qualified as a Pilot-in-Command, will be designated for each flight or series of flights, as described in the Operations Manual Part A, “Designation as PIC”.

The PIC reports directly to the NPFO

The PIC is the company’s legal representative and has overall authority and responsibility over other crewmembers during the scheduled duty.

Maintain familiarity with agreed aviation practices and procedures.

Maintain familiarity with such provisions of the Operations Manual as are necessary to fulfil his function. And

Ensure that all crewmembers are aware of their duties and responsibilities for the duration of flight or series of flights.

The safe operation of the airplane and safety of its occupants and cargo during flight.

The PIC gives all the commands deemed necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of the airplane and of persons or property carried therein, and all persons carried in the airplane shall obey such commands.

To disembark any person, or any part of the cargo, which in his/her opinion, may represent a potential hazard to the safety of the airplane or its occupants.

To not allow a person to be carried in the airplane who appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the extent that the safety of the airplane or its occupants is likely to be endangered.

To refuse transportation of inadmissible passengers, deportees or persons in custody if their carriage poses any risk to the safety of the airplane or its occupants.

For ensuring that all passengers are briefed, in accordance with the Operations Manual Part A, “Passenger Briefing Procedures”, on the location of emergency exits and the location and use of relevant safety and emergency equipment, and on meteorological information during flight and at the destination.

For ensuring that all operational procedures and checklists are complied with, in accordance with the Operations Manual.

The PIC shall obtain, check and sign all available aeronautical and meteorological information pertinent to his/her next flight including NOTAMs, SNOWTAMs, runway conditions, temperature/pressure, upper wind and aerodrome meteorological forecasts.

This information will enable the PIC

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  to judge if the weather and the visibility/RVR at the aerodrome and the condition of the runway intended to be used will allow for a safe take-off and departure (with due regard to all relevant performance aspects of the OM Part B),
  
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  to select destination alternate and take- off alternate aerodromes prior to flight, with due regard the prescribed planning minima,
  
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  to calculate the operational flight plan, the planned amount of fuel and oil being based on the expected operating conditions and sufficient for a safe completion of flight (whenever the flight- is being calculated by third parties, it is the PICs responsibility to ensure that these requirements are met),
  

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  if not already performed by ground personnel, to submit to the appropriate ATS unit a flight plan sufficient information for the initiation of SAR action should the flight becomes overdue;
  
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  decide whether or not to accept an airplane with unserviceability, acceptable according to the CDL or MEL;
  
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  take all reasonable steps to ensure that the airplane, and any required equipment, is serviceable and that relevant emergency equipment is serviceable, accessible and ready for use;
  
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  ensure that airplane refuelling is supervised with particular attention being paid to:
  

fuel quality check

fire safety precautions

checking filler caps for security;

take all reasonable steps to ensure that the airplane mass and balance is within the calculated limits for the operating conditions and that its load is distributed in accordance with the Operations Manual Part A “Airplane Passengers, and Cargo Handling Procedures related to Safety on the Ramp”, Operations Manual Part B, “Mass and Balance” and “Loading of the Airplane Type Concerned”;

confirm that the airplane’s performance will enable it to complete the proposed flight safely;

not permit any crewmember to perform any additional activity during take-off, initial climb, final approach or landing, except those duties required for the safe operation of the airplane;

take all reasonable steps to ensure that whenever the airplane is taxiing, taking off or landing, or whenever he considers it advisable, all passengers are properly secured in their seats, and all cabin baggage is stowed in the approved storages;

ensure that current maps, charts and associated documents or equivalent data are available to cover the intended operation of the aircraft including any diversion which may reasonably be expected. This shall indicate any conversion tables necessary to support operations where metric heights, altitudes and flight levels are used;

ensure that the areas of operations are reviewed for adequacy including as applicable:

Navigation aids;

Runways, taxiways, ramp areas;

Curfews;

PPR (prior permission required);

Field conditions;

Lighting;

ARFF (airport rescue and firefighting);

Applicable operating minima;

ensure that the documents and manuals listed in the Operations Manual Part A, “List of Documents, Forms and additional Information to be Carried” are carried and remain valid throughout the flight or series of flights, and be produced to a person authorised by the Authority when requested;

ensure that operations are conducted in accordance with any restriction on the routes or the areas of operation specified by the competent authority;

ensure that the pre-flight inspection has been carried out;

ensure that administrative duties are completed accurately and on time and where required reporting is carried out according to the Operations Manual Part A, “Handling, Notifying and Reporting Occurrences”;

ensure that any feedback, concerning the flight progress, airplane status, routing, ground support, is reported as soon as practical to the NPFO, verbally in case of urgency or on the flight briefing form; and

ensure that crewmembers and passengers observe the restrictions on smoking;

in an emergency situation that requires an immediate decision and action, the PIC shall take any action he considers necessary under the circumstances. In such cases he may deviate from rules, operational procedures and methods in the interest of safety, for reporting requirements after deviation or an occurrence refer to the chapter occurrence reporting;

must ensure that abnormal or emergency situations, system malfunctions and IMC conditions are not simulated for any purpose in non-training flights;

has the authority to apply greater safety margins, including aerodrome operating minima, if he deems it necessary;

in the event of third party maintenance being required whilst away from home base, the PIC must ensure that the CAMO is consulted and in agreement before any work takes place, that work orders are given by the NP CAMO and that any entries made in the Technical Log System are made according to the Operations Manual Part A, “Operator’s Airplane Technical Log”; and

must ensure that a continuous listening watch is maintained on the appropriate radio communication frequencies at all times whenever the flight crew is managing the airplane for the purpose of commencing and/or conducting a flight and when taxiing.

The PIC shall not permit:

a flight data recorder to be disabled, switched off or erased during flight nor permit recorded data to be erased after a flight in the event of an accident or an incident subject to mandatory reporting, unless he believes that the recorded data, which otherwise would be erased automatically, should be preserved for incident or accident investigation; or

a cockpit voice recorder to be disabled or switched off during flight unless he believes that the recorded data, which otherwise would be erased automatically, should be preserved for incident or accident investigation, nor permit recorded data to be manually erased during or after flight in the event of an accident or incident subject to mandatory reporting.