"PILOT RESPONSE" EICAS message

[Cbf]

Does anybody have information concerning "PILOT RESPONSE" Crew Alertness Monitor EICAS message (Warning, Caution and Advisory)? FCOM is not very clear: "monitors switch action on the MCP, EFIS control panel, EICAS control panel, CDUs, VHF/HF press-to-talk switches, and top of descent (TOD)"...

[Iadbound]

Does this help? From the 747-441 Operations Manual:

"Crew Alertness Monitor

"The FMC continuously monitors activation of switches on the MCP, EFIS control
panel, EICAS control panel, CDUs, and VHF/HF press-to-talk switches. When a
predefined time elapses after the last control movement, the EICAS advisory
message PILOT RESPONSE is displayed.

"If there is still no response after a brief time, the EICAS caution message PILOT
RESPONSE is displayed.

"If there is still no response, the EICAS warning message PILOT RESPONSE is
displayed.

"The PILOT RESPONSE message is no longer displayed after pushing any control
on any of the monitored systems or panels.

"The PILOT RESPONSE message is inhibited below 20,000 feet."

I read it, and have experienced it in other Boeing planes (777), as: the plane will bug you if you don't move any of the specified controls in a specified period.  I think on the PMDG 777 (for example) it is 30 minutes and then you'll hear the warning.  I'm guessing in IRL it's operator specific.

[Owl]

More info on the possible timer values for those curious (CAM = Crew Alertness Monitor):

• The CAM valid range and default timer advisory, caution, and warning values for
cruise and descent are as follows:
- Cruise – the CAM timer values are
15 to 60 minutes (default = 15 minutes) for advisory.
15 to 75 minutes (default = 20 minutes) for caution.
15 to 75 minutes (default = 25 minutes) for warning.
- Descent – the CAM timer values are
5 to 60 minutes (default = 5 minutes) for advisory.
5 to 75 minutes (default = 6 minutes) for caution.
5 to 75 minutes (default = 7 minutes) for warning.
Default timer values for these alerts can be modified in a customer-tailored airline-modifiable
information (AMI) document.

[IefCooreman]

747-400 has pilot response? We used to have fun with this one on the 777 on atlantic crossings, wanting to get the warning to activate and tried to keep our hands 'off' after the transponder was reset coasting out. But it was hard to stop the habit of following up the heading bug while in LNAV (you always align it with the heading on the MAP). Just boys having fun with their toys :-)

It basically monitors pilot actions and will 'siren' them awake again if they haven't been active aka sleeping (I'm not kidding...)

[Britjet]

I did the opposite - I used to press a Tx selector every few minutes to save it waking the other pilot on their controlled test..

[IefCooreman]

British politeness at its best :-)

[Will]

What about the game where the pilots take turns manipulating switches... whoever ends up cancelling PILOT RESPONSE loses the game? (Can't repeat a switch your buddy already moved.)

[Avi]

CAM was implemented in CMC-PSX v1.13 as a feature.
For more details read this.

[jawomba]

Big thank You Avi, among the newer options in the 747-400 this is sure the one I missed most.

Jan