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A320 captain noted that the first officer was sick during the flight. First officer commented that he was intimidated by the company for calling in 'sick.'
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 688279 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200602 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1801 To 2400 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | atc facility : zzz.artcc |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | msl single value : 35000 |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | artcc : zzz.artcc |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | A320 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | cruise : level |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 500 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 3000 |
| ASRS Report | 688279 |
| Person 2 | |
| Function | flight crew : first officer |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | other anomaly other |
| Independent Detector | other flight crewa other flight crewb |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : anomaly accepted |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company Flight Crew Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
During the flight; it became readily apparent after we departed that the first officer was recovering from an illness. As he used the radio to communicate with ATC; he coughed unctlably. It was at this point that I realized that he should have taken some time off via the sick list to recover more fully. It was obvious by our discussion that he was intimidated by the flight office and the chief pilot via the absence management program which tracks and punishes pilots for using sick leave. This policy placed me in an uncomfortable situation; as I do not have the expertise to diagnose a person's illness. I contemplated diverting the flight due to his state; but elected not to after determining it was safe to continue. This policy must be stopped; as it jeopardizes the safe working environment due to crew members hiding their illness so as to be able to fly the trip.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A320 CAPT NOTED THAT THE FO WAS SICK DURING THE FLT. FO COMMENTED THAT HE WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE COMPANY FOR CALLING IN 'SICK.'
Narrative: DURING THE FLT; IT BECAME READILY APPARENT AFTER WE DEPARTED THAT THE FO WAS RECOVERING FROM AN ILLNESS. AS HE USED THE RADIO TO COMMUNICATE WITH ATC; HE COUGHED UNCTLABLY. IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT I REALIZED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN SOME TIME OFF VIA THE SICK LIST TO RECOVER MORE FULLY. IT WAS OBVIOUS BY OUR DISCUSSION THAT HE WAS INTIMIDATED BY THE FLT OFFICE AND THE CHIEF PLT VIA THE ABSENCE MGMNT PROGRAM WHICH TRACKS AND PUNISHES PLTS FOR USING SICK LEAVE. THIS POLICY PLACED ME IN AN UNCOMFORTABLE SITUATION; AS I DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DIAGNOSE A PERSON'S ILLNESS. I CONTEMPLATED DIVERTING THE FLT DUE TO HIS STATE; BUT ELECTED NOT TO AFTER DETERMINING IT WAS SAFE TO CONTINUE. THIS POLICY MUST BE STOPPED; AS IT JEOPARDIZES THE SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT DUE TO CREW MEMBERS HIDING THEIR ILLNESS SO AS TO BE ABLE TO FLY THE TRIP.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.