HOT TOPICS in the Training Center

1. Aborted Take-Off criteria: be more specific when briefing criteria below 80kts.  Follow the guidance in AOM v. 1 3-125.  Avoid phrases similar to, “we will abort for anything below 80 knots", etc.

2. When accepting a new altitude, point to the PFD and state the new altitude when setting the altitude.

3. The first officer should write down taxi clearances issued by ATC. Avoid using the MCDU scratch pad as a place to remember a taxi clearance.  While taxiing, the first officer should assist the captain by following along with the airport diagram and help navigate the taxiways.

4. Brief who will be the pilot running the QRC/QRH and who will be the pilot flying the airplane when a situation requires the use of a QRC/QRH procedure. The FOM and Preamble of the QRH recommend the captain run the QRC/QRH while the first officer flies the airplane; however, some situations might make more sense to have the captain fly the airplane and the FO run the QRC/QRH.

5. After completing a QRH procedure, don’t forget to follow up with the Mechanical Irregularity Action Charts in the Additional section found in the back of the QRH.
    
6. Review and be familiar with RNAV/GPS approach procedures (AOM v. 1 3-144-2).  Review how to set minimums for an LNAV vs. LNAV/VNAV approach.  Know the difference between an LNAV vs. LNAV/VNAV approach and to determine if a particular approach has VGP.

7. Keep current on your knowledge of memory items and limitations. Review them often. At any point when flying on the line, you should be able to recite a memory item or limitation.  Remember that memory items and limitations must be 100% correct when attending a training event that involves a Knowledge Validation.

8. Do NOT abort/reject a take-off roll for “ENG TLA NOT TOGA”.  Captains, when placing your hands on the thrust levers until V1, lightly place your hands on the thrust levers.  Avoid applying pressure and/or forcefully holding onto the thrust levers because any bump in the runway may inadvertently cause your hand to move a perfectly working auto-throttle/thrust lever out of the TOGA position resulting in the ENG TLA NOT TOGA EICAS message.

9. When receiving a PDC that contains routing that is different from the filed route on the dispatch release, the first officer needs to alert the captain so adjustments can be made in the MCDU prior to departure.

10. When in the terminal area environment, remember to always look outside in the direction of a turn prior to initiating a turn.