Limiting crew touch points
 

This post is over the top and many of the ideas may seem ridiculous, but it’s an attempt to be part of the solution.

Are there changes to the operation we can make to limit touch points when we, the crew, go to work?

Here’s preliminary ideas I dreamed up:

- TSA does not handle our IDs
- Gate agents open the door to jetways for crew
- F/A briefing conducted over interphone, not face to face
- Relief on some checks like cockpit door check, etc
- Relief on handling, signing or transferring the release, fuel slips, other paper work.
- increased efforts to avoid use of delta computers (pilot lounge) opting for personal devices instead
- limited cabin service to include beverage service or change it to mitigate touch points
- not gonna happen but, more magnetic readers vs keypads for door locks to ramp other secure areas
- controlled food / snacks loaded in a sanitary box / bag that crew members can use on the flight and / or on layovers to limit touch points to get food and drinks
- one pilot handles the logbook and presents it to the other
- wait for the van driver to open and close the door and retrieve your own bags.

Okay, I know most of these are not practical, already being considered, or just dumb.

There are smart people here. The idea is to throw out ideas in the hope we could come up with some new idea that would be easy to implement and make going to work less likely to result in spread.

Thanks.

Only one person tunes the radio. Captain doesn't touch the left side when PF (ie, no helping the FO with freq changes, unless you are doing all of them). If Capt is PM, then tune ground and tower on the left side for the FO on taxi out/in.

Same with MCP or any other shared controls. The flap handle is a tricky one, since the FO sets the flap lever for TO, but the CA may set it as PM for landing.

I think that, in the cockpit, we need to trust that the other pilot is doing the recommended hand washing technique and use hand sanitizer to augment. Changing the way we do things in the cockpit other than preflight is just asking for errors to be introduced.

I do agree with many of the things the OP suggests, and will probably pay much more attention to where I can avoid touching things outside of my control/possession whenever possible/practical.

This is why I'm slightly amused at the guys who get their panties all wadded up about the company cleaning the cockpit. In order to do it properly, after EVERY crew swap you'd need to thoroughly wipe down every switch and surface that could conceivably have been touched during the time the last crew had the plane. It's not just the obvious ones like gear/flap handle, radios, FCP yoke, etc. You've got to think armrests, any chair adjustment knobs, window handles, sun shades, rudder pedal adjustment knobs, any interphone or hand microphone, cockpit lighting knobs/switches, and of course any other upper or lower panel switches that are used with any frequency. There's no practical way to do that for each crew swap. I know they're doing more cleaning on the RON's but I doubt even then that they're being as thorough as they need to be to ensure the cockpit is fully disinfected.

I had a guy a couple of trips ago where on the first leg I noticed him using the ship headset and I commented that the idea of using that was kind of gross given the virus situation. I saw the lightbulb go on in his head about how many people had been handling and breathing and spitting on the boom. He then wiped it down each new plane we got on. By day 3 he was like the first time I'm doing when I get home is buy myself a headset...

Cleaning cockpits every night is kinda like a nurse changing gloves once every four patients. It’s better than nothing.

Someone leaving a bottle of hand sanitizer on the center console for community use is good.

Kinda like the gum packet there for cockpit use. If it’s there, the other guy probably wants you to use it.

Much of this conversation is way over the top. For years I have used one Clorox wipe per leg and a normal job of washing my hands. That seems to have served me well. I wish my partners would practice the same techniques, however I have seen guys blow their nose into their hands and then go on to touching everything. Some bizarre behavior

That's funny.

And you have been missed.

You are right that changing the flight deck routines carries high risk for errors.

Yep. 1 wipe for the flight deck and 1 for the hotel room. Avoided handshakes. Haven't had a cold in 10 years.

Now I can't buy Clorox wipes because all of a sudden common-sense hygiene is in vogue.:D

Ship sets anyone?

Huh...I figured you guys had been doing this all along. In the spirit of separating yourselves from the unwashed masses.

So was it the math, the psyc, the cog or the HR part?

For me, the most fraught part of the day is the visit to the forward lav. But thanks to my new catheter from Liberty Medical, that’s now a concern of the past. The catheter line exits discretely at the sock line, and into a conveniently placed one liter reservoir tucked inside the flight bag. Call Liberty Medical today. They can help you live a better life.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f2/b5...cd5594dc53.jpg

[QUOTE=gloopy;3017724]So was it the math, the psyc, the cog or the HR part?

Nope! 1st place in math, 1st place in cognitive abilities, and I’m a minority on two fronts; so first place with HR! Keep keeping us safe from everyone other than yourself!

Obviously, best idea so far. :)

Uh huh.

So you applied, updated, were given an interview, aced it (first place! even though none of that is tracked...) and then you turned them down!

We totally believe you and you're not even on guard or anything true story.

The breathtaking arrogance on display here is... unsurprising, I suppose. Does it give you the warm and tinglies to look at yourself in the mirror every morning and think, "I'm a Delta Pilot, and those other guys aren't"?

I think you're missing the point here. That [quite obviously a troll] poster claimed to have came in first place in all categories. Except, that isn't even a thing. There's no interview class rankings. Then it was implied that despite applying and interviewing, and then absolutely smashing the interview with their incredible skills, they turned DL down. You know you don't believe that either.

That poster came here to troll. That's fine and I don't even mind it. As long as its witty or at least funny enough to warrant a dry chuckle. Is that too much to ask?

But if you're gonna try and flame, please don't be lame.

Thanks FTB. Got hired at Blue and then spent the next 6 years content with just doing my job and going home.

Now we have this Corona mess, and I find myself back on the forums trying to decipher what the future holds for us. I’m on the Delta threads to get educated opinions and some real analysis, since the guys on the BlueJet forum are still focused on “What color suit to wear?”

Glad to see some familiar faces. Is underboob still allowed?

You are correct sir, and I apologize. I just reread the thread and I see your point. I need to put my darn phone down and go for a walk outside. Apologies again.

So no 'tickle fights' on layovers? 😷

Thats just one persons opinion. Certainly not mine. See ya in the hotel!

hey i have my mask on. :)

I still laugh when i think of that clown in congress explaining tickle fights......guess he thought as with insider trading there was some kind of Immunity. Lol.

Underboob.

man. I’ve forgotten how wonderful those days were. Somewhere we lost our way. These days it’s chicken puns or Miatas, but no underboob.

But if you bring it back it will create problems.

there is the delta pilot here, referred to as a DH by his DW on the delta pilots wives website, who will enjoy seeing underboob.

It may encourage him to want to violate the 6’ containment zone his wife swears apply at home. Causes marital strife. That’s on you.

or he may find that his HW is all about it. But they also have two kids running around all day every day. And all hours of the night. And so you may need to have some sort of solution like shoes in the dryer. It’s on you to have a solution.

and idk if you even do all that if the mods allow it anymore.

Shoes in the dryer. See, now that’s the kind of advice you don’t find on the Blue threads.

Just don't do it at night. Doc Martins are pretty loud when they tumble around in there. And if you do it on any setting other than low it will ruin the yellow threads.

And no more making out at cruise.

But ships sets are still ok.

Do you even fly bro? Real Delta pilots wear New Balance, plus there are no yellow threads on white shoes.

Yeah, I love the look and feel of the Doc Martens, but they are just not practical when it's showtime. Leave them at home. Travel light and fly high.

Black socks though. Especially with shorts.