2012 A321 CFTT Lyon France
In 2012, an A321 commanded by a Training Captain who was also in charge of Air Operations for the airline was supervising a trainee Captain on a night passenger flight. The aircraft failed to establish on the Lyons ILS and, in IMC, descended sufficiently to activate both MSAW and EGPWS 'PULL UP' activations which prompted recovery. The Investigation concluded that application of both normal and emergency procedures had been inadequate and had led to highly degraded situational awareness for both pilots. The context for this was assessed to have been poor operational management at the airline.
Given the training situation and the inadequacies noted in the airline's overall supervision it is not possible to be sure what difference a changed basic procedure would have made. However the following factors appear relevant.
There was clearly a very high authority gradient between the trainee Captain (PF) and the PM aircraft commander, an instructor, check pilot and operations director of the airline. The PF was nominally "in charge" but had very little command experience and was being checked out as a direct entry Captain, while the PM was extremely experienced although neither had very much experience on the type.
If the airline had PicMA as its SOP it is likely that the approach would have better prepared. The preparation was for R/W 18 and it is perhaps less likely that the "short cut" offered by ATC to R/W 36 would have been accepted by the trainee Captain as he would have been doing the R/T and responsible for the overall strategy.
It is also likely that if a go-around had been necessary it would have been better anticipated, and not resulted in the near loss of control with the two pilots making opposing side stick inputs.
