Sanjoy Dutta Gupta on Handling Critical Situations

Trust your instincts, especially when you're in the deep end.

Sanjoy Dutta Gupta

Handling Critical Situations

Captain Sanjoy Dutta Gupta is the CEO of RPSG Group's Aviation division. With over 31 years in aviation, he has worked extensively with both Scheduled and Non-Scheduled Operators, gaining deep insights into the Indian Aviation industry. Earlier he was the CEO & Chief Pilot at Bajaj Aviation, flew for the Haryana Government, was a senior captain and management member at Jet Airways, and a founding member of Air Sahara.

As an aviation professional, you have likely encountered numerous critical situations. Could you please share an experience where your attention to detail and thoroughness prevented a critical situation from escalating?

This incident took place in 2006, while I was employed with one of India’s leading airlines. I was rostered to command a Delhi-Guwahati-Delhi flight on a Boeing 737. The first leg of the flight was routine and uneventful. However, on the return from Guwahati, we encountered a complete electrical failure just as we crossed Lucknow. The electrical system is extremely critical to the operation of a modern-day commercial jet. As we switched to our emergency/reserve power, which theoretically lasts 30 minutes (but rarely does in reality), our flight management system indicated that we were 32 minutes from Delhi. Another concern was the approaching nightfall. Without our instruments, it would have been twice as hard to track the runway in the dark.

Flying with a freshly certified first officer, a full complement of cabin crew, and passengers, we declared an emergency. We asked for priority landing and went about calmly and professionally following our standard operating procedures. Meanwhile, the cabin crew secured the passengers and shed all non-essential electrical load in the cabin, keeping the load on our emergency battery as low as possible. With ATC clearing the path for us, we managed to touchdown in Delhi just under 30 minutes at dusk. As we vacated the runway, the aircraft underwent a total load shed.

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Could you explain the significance of teamwork and collaboration in handling critical situations in the aviation industry?

Flying and aviation, in general, are all about teamwork. It begins in the cockpit where there are always two pilots: one who’s flying and one who is monitoring the aircraft with the help of instruments, maintaining communications, and technical logs. They operate in absolute synergy and have been trained to maintain a singular set of operating procedures to ensure the best possible outcome for any normal, non-normal, or emergency situation. Furthermore, the integration of tasks by the cabin crew, air traffic control, and a plethora of other units/agencies all ensures that the aviation industry’s safety standards worldwide are second to none. Fun fact: We are also one of the most regulated industries in the world.

How can the skills acquired through handling critical situations in aviation be applied to effectively solve problems in a business environment or even in one's personal life?

Given the serious nature of flying, mistakes can be very unforgiving. Sticking to the basics and keeping things as standard/uniform as possible is the best course of action. We also maintain a stringent recurring training program, which allows us to keep our skills sharp; hence, it's crucial to hit the books and revise your craft whenever possible.

Don't attempt to do everything by yourself. Any organisation requires a synergized workforce. Lastly, trust your instincts, especially when you're in the deep end. This, of course, becomes easier with experience.

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