Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Hazardous Material Violation; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Manuals; Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
We were on a military charter with 4 dangerous goods (DG) pallets. Aircraft was loaded when pilots arrived at the aircraft. DG was presented by load master (LM). On DG inspection; noted discrepancies with our FOM guidance; especially with aisle way requirements; number of pallets; placement on aircraft; etc. Was told by LM that 'it's OK; it's a military charter and the DG is accessible.' Briefed Captain and First Officer. First Officer went back to check DG and concurred with my assessment. We know there are many exceptions while operating a military charter so we asked the question if 18 inch aisle ways on left and aft sides of ADG pallets were waived on military charters? Answer back was that they knew of nothing that waived the FOM guidance. Briefed LM; who got on his cell phone and coordinated with DO; his boss; safety; etc. to get a waiver. Waiver was provided and attached to paperwork; and flight proceeded normally.DG and aircraft loading is a frequent discrepancy area between our FOM guidance and what in reality takes place. I have done several military charters and have observed this first hand. There are many requirements in FOM Chapter 10 that are routinely 'violated' during military charter operations as the pallets are built up outside of our control; the load plan and orientation of pallets; etc are controlled by this 'special' military user. Suggest a team be formed of the Load masters; Safety; Charters; DG Specialists; pilots; etc to work out a method of providing waivers; permanent or otherwise; of FOM requirements for DG loading when warranted. By operating on a daily basis with only 'it's OK' from the load master; 'we don't have to follow that FOM paragraph because it's impractical'; we promote a culture of the normalization of deviance and increase the possibility of an aircraft incident. We need to decide if these issues (and there will likely be more that a team brainstorms) can be waived for our military charter operations: carriage of lithium batteries on an ADG pallet with other ADG; ADG pallets not on left side of aircraft; missing 18 inch aisle ways on ADG pallets and/or normal pallets that separate ADG pallets; aisle ways not on left/aft sides; but they still provide adequate access to the ADG cargo; wrapping ADG pallets in clear plastic (some military buildups are in hard cases and not normally covered in plastic); requiring netting on ADG pallets (some military buildups; such as ammo cases are strapped to the pallet and not netted); normal max of 3 ADG pallets on wide bodies; 10.43 MD-11 Position Configuration Chart; etc. We routinely operate with all of the above and to remove the normalization of deviance by winking at the restrictions in the FOM; why don't we formally waive them after examine the safety aspects; or provide the LM with the authority and training on military charters to certify the acceptability of the load and DG even with conflicts with the FOM; with the Captain's concurrence. We need to re-establish the FOM as a source document for the aircrew which we can rely on for charter operations; while at the same time; meeting the unique needs of our military customer.
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A MD-11 flight crew on a Military cargo flight noted that the dangerous goods were not loaded in accordance with the FOM; but discovered after examination that exceptions are made for military dangerous goods flight loaded by non-company specialists.