Develop Realistic Scenario-Based Simulated Training for Smoke in the Cockpit Events

We are providing the following information to urge the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Regional Airline Association (RAA) to act on safety recommendations in this report. These recommendations address the lack of training for flight crews in how to manage the stress associated with increased workload, difficulty seeing, and other effects of a cockpit smoke event. Lack of preparation for such an event can impede the continued safe operation of the airplane. We identified this issue during our investigation of a December 20, 2023, incident involving Southwest Airlines flight 554, a Boeing 737-8, in which smoke filled the cockpit after a bird was ingested into the left (No. 1) engine. The NTSB is issuing two safety recommendations to the FAA and one safety recommendation to A4A and the RAA.

​The lack of realistic scenario-based training for smoke in the cockpit events may prevent flight crews that carry passengers for hire from responding quickly during an actual smoke emergency, potentially increasing the time it takes to evacuate the smoke.​

As a result of this investigation, we made the following new safety recommendations.

To the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):

Work with the industry to develop standardized training for realistic scenario-based simulations of smoke in the cockpit events to be used during initial and recurrent pilot training for all operators that carry passengers for hire. (A-26-58)

After the standardized realistic scenario-based simulations are developed, as requested in A-26-58, incorporate the training into FAA Order 8900.1A, Flight Standards Information Management System, Volume 3 “General Technical Administration,” Chapter 19 “Training Programs and Airman Qualifications.” (A-26-59)

To Airlines for America (A4A) and the Regional Airline Association (RAA):

Disseminate the information and findings from the December 20, 2023, Kenner, Louisiana, incident to your members and encourage them to incorporate realistic, scenario-based training to simulate smoke in the cockpit events. (A-26-60)  ​