The conversations pilots are banned from having on flights – and why

PILOTS are banned from having certain conversations on flights because they are considered dangerous.

Passengers may assume that the flight crew in the cockpit are having a normal chat about their day as they prepare to take off.

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However, very specific rules dictate that they aren’t allowed to discuss anything that isn’t essential or flight-related.

The rule, known as the “sterile cockpit” was brought in by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in 1981.

They did this after they discovered that such chats were likely distracting pilots and potentially responsible for several accidents.

One of the most famous cases was Eastern Airlines Flight 212, which crashed while attempting to touch down at Charlotte Douglas International airport in 1972.

An investigation revealed that the pilots were trying to locate the nearby Carowinds Amusement Park as they came in to land, instead of focusing on doing their jobs properly.

The rules dictate that when the plane is flying below 10,000 feet, or when performing critical parts of the journey, pilots have to be focussed on their tasks.

Simple Flying explained: “Put simply, the ‘sterile cockpit’ rules forbid any unnecessary actions or conversations taking place in the aircraft cockpit during the most critical parts of the flights.

“This is usually defined as the taxi, take-off and approach and landing phases, and when operating under 10,000 feet (although each airline sets its own definition).

“It is vital that at this time, the cockpit crew focus on flying the aircraft and not be distracted by each other, other crew, or passengers.”

While the FAA and the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) have slightly different versions of the rule, they are more or less the same.

In both cases, the following rules are in place while the sterile cockpit is in place:

• Non-essential and social conversation between pilots is forbidden
• Activities such as eating meals, reading, etc are prohibited
• No unnecessary distractions are allowed from the cabin crew
• General passenger announcements should not be made (such as general briefings or surrounding sights information)
• Calls to the ground, or company, for non-essential reasons are nor permitted
• Any unnecessary paperwork should not be completed

This is why landing announcements usually come around half an hour before landing.

The rule also applies to flight attendants.

During the periods where the sterile cockpit rule is enforced, cabin crew are not supposed to contact the pilots unless in an emergency.

They are also supposed to concentrate on preparing the cabin for take off or landing.

It is hoped that by enforcing these rules, pilots avoid focusing on other distractions and will be able to do their job safer.

Meanwhile, this is why pilots prefer bumpier landings to smooth ones.

And another pilot explained what they have to do while flying to keep the plane in the air.

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