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Aeronautical
Decision-Making
Introduction
Aeronautical decision-making (ADM) is decision-making
in a unique environmentaviation. It is a systematic
approach to the mental process used by pilots to consistently
determine the best course of action in response to a given set
of circumstances. It is what a pilot intends to do based on the
latest information he or she has.
17-1
The importance of learning and understanding effective History of ADM
ADM skills cannot be overemphasized. While progress is
For over 25 years, the importance of good pilot judgment, or
continually being made in the advancement of pilot training
aeronautical decision-making (ADM), has been recognized
methods, aircraft equipment and systems, and services
as critical to the safe operation of aircraft, as well as accident
for pilots, accidents still occur. Despite all the changes in
avoidance. The airline industry, motivated by the need to
technology to improve ight safety, one factor remains the
reduce accidents caused by human factors, developed the rst
same: the human factor which leads to errors. It is estimated
training programs based on improving ADM. Crew resource
that approximately 80 percent of all aviation accidents are
management (CRM) training for ight crews is focused on
related to human factors and the vast majority of these
the effective use of all available resources: human resources,
accidents occur during landing (24.1 percent) and takeoff
hardware, and information supporting ADM to facilitate crew
(23.4 percent). [Figure 17-1]
cooperation and improve decision-making. The goal of all
ight crews is good ADM and the use of CRM is one way
ADM is a systematic approach to risk assessment and stress
to make good decisions.
management. To understand ADM is to also understand how
personal attitudes can inuence decision-making and how
Research in this area prompted the Federal Aviation
those attitudes can be modied to enhance safety in the ight
Administration (FAA) to produce training directed at
deck. It is important to understand the factors that cause
improving the decision-making of pilots and led to current
humans to make decisions and how the decision-making
FAA regulations that require that decision-making be taught
process not only works, but can be improved.
as part of the pilot training curriculum. ADM research,
development, and testing culminated in 1987 with the
This chapter focuses on helping the pilot improve his or
publication of six manuals oriented to the decision-making
her ADM skills with the goal of mitigating the risk factors
needs of variously rated pilots. These manuals provided
associated with flight. Advisory Circular (AC) 60-22,
multifaceted materials designed to reduce the number
Aeronautical Decision-Making, provides background
of decision related accidents. The effectiveness of these
references, denitions, and other pertinent information about
materials was validated in independent studies where student
ADM training in the general aviation (GA) environment.
pilots received such training in conjunction with the standard
[Figure 17-2]
ying curriculum. When tested, the pilots who had received
ADM training made fewer inight errors than those who had
24.1%
23.4%
15.7%
13%
9.7%
4.7%
3.5% 3.3%
2.6%
Figure
Figure TheThe
16-1.
17-1. figure above
percentage illustrates
of aviation the percentage
accidents of aviation
as they relate to theaccidents
differentas they relate
phases to the
of flight. different
Note phases
that the of flight.
greatest percentage of
Note that
accidents theplace
take greatest percentage
during of accidentsoftake
a minor percentage the place during a minor percentage of the total flight; takeoff or landing phases.
total flight.
17-2
Figure 16-2.Advisory
Figure17-2. Circular
The Advisory (AC) 60-22,
Circular, Aeronautical
AC60-22 Decision
Aeronautical Making,
Decision carries
Making a wealth
carries of information
a wealth for the that
of information pilot the
to learn.
pilot
should
not be familiar
received ADM training. The differences were statistically 3. Learning how to recognize and cope with stress.
signicant and ranged from about 10 to 50 percent fewer 4. Developing risk assessment skills.
judgment errors. In the operational environment, an operator
ying about 400,000 hours annually demonstrated a 54 5. Using all resources.
percent reduction in accident rate after using these materials 6. Evaluating the effectiveness of ones ADM skills.
for recurrency training.
Risk management is an important component of ADM.
Contrary to popular opinion, good judgment can be taught. When a pilot follows good decision-making practices, the
Tradition held that good judgment was a natural by-product inherent risk in a ight is reduced or even eliminated. The
of experience, but as pilots continued to log accident-free ability to make good decisions is based upon direct or indirect
ight hours, a corresponding increase of good judgment experience and education.
was assumed. Building upon the foundation of conventional
decision-making, ADM enhances the process to decrease Consider automotive seat belt use. In just two decades, seat
the probability of human error and increase the probability belt use has become the norm, placing those who do not
of a safe ight. ADM provides a structured, systematic wear seat belts outside the norm, but this group may learn
approach to analyzing changes that occur during a ight to wear a seat belt by either direct or indirect experience. For
and how these changes might affect a ights safe outcome. example, a driver learns through direct experience about the
The ADM process addresses all aspects of decision-making value of wearing a seat belt when he or she is involved in a car
in the ight deck and identies the steps involved in good accident that leads to a personal injury. An indirect learning
decision-making. experience occurs when a loved one is injured during a car
accident because he or she failed to wear a seat belt.
Steps for good decision-making are:
1. Identifying personal attitudes hazardous to safe While poor decision-making in everyday life does not always
ight. lead to tragedy, the margin for error in aviation is thin. Since
ADM enhances management of an aeronautical environment,
2. Learning behavior modication techniques. all pilots should become familiar with and employ ADM.
17-3
Crew Resource Management (CRM) and props operation and he has been told that damage to a prop
Single-Pilot Resource Management could cause a catastrophic failure. This assessment leads him
to cancel his ight.
While CRM focuses on pilots operating in crew environments,
many of the concepts apply to single-pilot operations. Many
Therefore, elements or factors affecting individuals are
CRM principles have been successfully applied to single-pilot
different and profoundly impact decision-making. These
aircraft, and led to the development of Single-Pilot Resource
are called human factors and can transcend education,
Management (SRM). SRM is dened as the art and science
experience, health, physiological aspects, etc.
of managing all the resources (both on-board the aircraft
and from outside sources) available to a single pilot (prior
Another example of risk assessment was the ight of a
and during ight) to ensure that the successful outcome
Beechcraft King Air equipped with deicing and anti-icing.
of the ight. SRM includes the concepts of ADM, Risk
The pilot deliberately ew into moderate to severe icing
Management (RM), Task Management (TM), Automation
conditions while ducking under cloud cover. A prudent pilot
Management (AM), Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
would assess the risk as high and beyond the capabilities of
Awareness, and Situational Awareness (SA). SRM training
the aircraft, yet this pilot did the opposite. Why did the pilot
helps the pilot maintain situational awareness by managing
take this action?
the automation and associated aircraft control and navigation
tasks. This enables the pilot to accurately assess and manage
Past experience prompted the action. The pilot had
risk and make accurate and timely decisions.
successfully own into these conditions repeatedly although
the icing conditions were previously forecast 2,000 feet
SRM is all about helping pilots learn how to gather
above the surface. This time, the conditions were forecast
information, analyze it, and make decisions. Although the
from the surface. Since the pilot was in a hurry and failed
ight is coordinated by a single person and not an onboard
to factor in the difference between the forecast altitudes,
ight crew, the use of available resources such as air trafc
he assigned a low risk to the hazard and took a chance. He
control (ATC) and ight service station (FSS) replicates the
and the passengers died from a poor risk assessment of the
principles of CRM.
situation.
Hazard and Risk
Hazardous Attitudes and Antidotes
Two dening elements of ADM are hazard and risk. Hazard Being t to y depends on more than just a pilots physical
is a real or perceived condition, event, or circumstance that a condition and recent experience. For example, attitude will
pilot encounters. When faced with a hazard, the pilot makes affect the quality of decisions. Attitude is a motivational
an assessment of that hazard based upon various factors. The predisposition to respond to people, situations, or events in a
pilot assigns a value to the potential impact of the hazard, given manner. Studies have identied ve hazardous attitudes
which qualies the pilots assessment of the hazardrisk. that can interfere with the ability to make sound decisions
and exercise authority properly: anti-authority, impulsivity,
Therefore, risk is an assessment of the single or cumulative invulnerability, macho, and resignation. [Figure 17-3]
hazard facing a pilot; however, different pilots see hazards
differently. For example, the pilot arrives to preight and Hazardous attitudes contribute to poor pilot judgment but
discovers a small, blunt type nick in the leading edge at the can be effectively counteracted by redirecting the hazardous
middle of the aircrafts prop. Since the aircraft is parked attitude so that correct action can be taken. Recognition of
on the tarmac, the nick was probably caused by another hazardous thoughts is the rst step toward neutralizing them.
aircrafts prop wash blowing some type of debris into the After recognizing a thought as hazardous, the pilot should
propeller. The nick is the hazard (a present condition). The label it as hazardous, then state the corresponding antidote.
risk is prop fracture if the engine is operated with damage Antidotes should be memorized for each of the hazardous
to a prop blade. attitudes so they automatically come to mind when needed.
The seasoned pilot may see the nick as a low risk. He Risk
realizes this type of nick diffuses stress over a large area, is During each ight, the single pilot makes many decisions
located in the strongest portion of the propeller, and based on under hazardous conditions. To y safely, the pilot needs to
experience, he doesnt expect it to propagate a crack which assess the degree of risk and determine the best course of
can lead to high risk problems. He does not cancel his ight. action to mitigate risk.
The inexperienced pilot may see the nick as a high risk factor
because he is unsure of the affect the nick will have on the
17-4
The Five Hazardous Attitudes
Impulsivity: Do it quickly.
This is the attitude of people who frequently feel the need to do something, anything, immediately. They do not stop to think about
what they are about to do; they do not select the best alternative, and they do the first thing that comes to mind.
Figure 17-3. The five hazardous attitudes identified through past and contemporary study.
Assessing Risk Several risk assessment models are available to assist in the
For the single pilot, assessing risk is not as simple as it sounds. process of assessing risk. The models, all taking slightly
For example, the pilot acts as his or her own quality control different approaches, seek a common goal of assessing risk
in making decisions. If a fatigued pilot who has own 16 in an objective manner. Two are illustrated below.
hours is asked if he or she is too tired to continue ying, the
answer may be no. Most pilots are goal oriented and when The most basic tool is the risk matrix. [Figure 17-4] It
asked to accept a ight, there is a tendency to deny personal assesses two items: the likelihood of an event occurring and
limitations while adding weight to issues not germane to the the consequence of that event.
mission. For example, pilots of helicopter emergency services
(EMS) have been known (more than other groups) to make
Risk Assessment Matrix
ight decisions that add signicant weight to the patients
Severity
welfare. These pilots add weight to intangible factors (the
Likelihood Catastrophic Critical Marginal Negligible
patient in this case) and fail to appropriately quantify actual
hazards such as fatigue or weather when making ight Probable High High Serious
decisions. The single pilot who has no other crew member Occasional High Serious
for consultation must wrestle with the intangible factors that
draw one into a hazardous position. Therefore, he or she has Remote Serious Medium Low
a greater vulnerability than a full crew. Improbable
17-5
Likelihood of an Event Mitigating Risk
Likelihood is nothing more than taking a situation and Risk assessment is only part of the equation. After determining
determining the probability of its occurrence. It is rated as the level of risk, the pilot needs to mitigate the risk. For
probable, occasional, remote, or improbable. For example, a example, the pilot ying from point A to point B (50 miles)
pilot is ying from point A to point B (50 miles) in marginal in MVFR conditions has several ways to reduce risk:
visual ight rules (MVFR) conditions. The likelihood of Wait for the weather to improve to good visual ight
encountering potential instrument meteorological conditions rules (VFR) conditions.
(IMC) is the rst question the pilot needs to answer. The
experiences of other pilots coupled with the forecast, might Take a pilot who is certied as an IFR pilot.
cause the pilot to assign occasional to determine the Delay the ight.
probability of encountering IMC.
Cancel the ight.
The following are guidelines for making assignments. Drive.
Probablean event will occur several times.
One of the best ways to single pilots can mitigate risk is to
Occasionalan event will probably occur use the IMSAFE checklist to determine physical and mental
sometime. readiness for ying:
Remotean event is unlikely to occur, but is 1. IllnessAm I sick? Illness is an obvious pilot risk.
possible.
2. MedicationAm I taking any medicines that might
Improbablean event is highly unlikely to occur. affect my judgment or make me drowsy?
3. StressAm I under psychological pressure from the
Severity of an Event job? Do I have money, health, or family problems?
The next element is the severity or consequence of a Stress causes concentration and performance
pilots action(s). It can relate to injury and/or damage. If problems. While the regulations list medical conditions
the individual in the example above is not an instrument that require grounding, stress is not among them.
ight rules (IFR) pilot, what are the consequences of him The pilot should consider the effects of stress on
or her encountering inadvertent IMC conditions? In this performance.
case, because the pilot is not IFR rated, the consequences
4. AlcoholHave I been drinking within 8 hours?
are catastrophic. The following are guidelines for this
Within 24 hours? As little as one ounce of liquor, one
assignment.
bottle of beer, or four ounces of wine can impair ying
Catastrophicresults in fatalities, total loss skills. Alcohol also renders a pilot more susceptible
Criticalsevere injury, major damage to disorientation and hypoxia.
Marginalminor injury, minor damage 5. FatigueAm I tired and not adequately rested?
Fatigue continues to be one of the most insidious
Negligibleless than minor injury, less than minor
hazards to ight safety, as it may not be apparent to
system damage
a pilot until serious errors are made.
Simply connecting the two factors as shown in Figure 17-4 6. EatingHave I eaten enough of the proper foods to
indicates the risk is high and the pilot must either not y, or keep adequately nourished during the entire ight?
y only after nding ways to mitigate, eliminate, or control
the risk. The PAVE Checklist
Another way to mitigate risk is to perceive hazards. By
Although the matrix in Figure 17-4 provides a general incorporating the PAVE checklist into preight planning,
viewpoint of a generic situation, a more comprehensive the pilot divides the risks of ight into four categories: Pilot-
program can be made that is tailored to a pilots ying. in-command (PIC), Aircraft, enVironment, and External
[Figure 17-5] This program includes a wide array of aviation pressures (PAVE) which form part of a pilots decision-
related activities specic to the pilot and assesses health, making process.
fatigue, weather, capabilities, etc. The scores are added and
the overall score falls into various ranges, with the range
representative of actions that a pilot imposes upon himself
or herself.
17-6
RISK ASSESSMENT
Column total
TOTAL SCORE
Endangerment
Low Risk
17-7
With the PAVE checklist, pilots have a simple way to Does this aircraft have sufcient fuel capacity, with
remember each category to examine for risk prior to each reserves, for trip legs planned?
ight. Once a pilot identies the risks of a ight, he or she Does the fuel quantity delivered match the fuel
needs to decide whether the risk or combination of risks can quantity ordered?
be managed safely and successfully. If not, make the decision
to cancel the ight. If the pilot decides to continue with the V = EnVironment
ight, he or she should develop strategies to mitigate the
Weather
risks. One way a pilot can control the risks is to set personal
minimums for items in each risk category. These are limits Weather is an major environmental consideration. Earlier
unique to that individual pilots current level of experience it was suggested pilots set their own personal minimums,
and prociency. especially when it comes to weather. As pilots evaluate
the weather for a particular ight, they should consider the
For example, the aircraft may have a maximum crosswind following:
component of 15 knots listed in the aircraft ight manual What are the current ceiling and visibility? In
(AFM), and the pilot has experience with 10 knots of direct mountainous terrain, consider having higher minimums
crosswind. It could be unsafe to exceed a 10 knots crosswind for ceiling and visibility, particularly if the terrain is
component without additional training. Therefore, the 10 kts unfamiliar.
crosswind experience level is that pilots personal limitation
Consider the possibility that the weather may be
until additional training with a certicated ight instructor
different than forecast. Have alternative plans and
(CFI) provides the pilot with additional experience for ying
be ready and willing to divert, should an unexpected
in crosswinds that exceed 10 knots.
change occur.
One of the most important concepts that safe pilots Consider the winds at the airports being used and the
understand is the difference between what is legal in terms strength of the crosswind component.
of the regulations, and what is smart or safe in terms of If ying in mountainous terrain, consider whether there
pilot experience and prociency. are strong winds aloft. Strong winds in mountainous
terrain can cause severe turbulence and downdrafts
P = Pilot in Command (PIC) and be very hazardous for aircraft even when there is
The pilot is one of the risk factors in a ight. The pilot no other signicant weather.
must ask, Am I ready for this trip? in terms of experience, Are there any thunderstorms present or forecast?
recency, currency, physical and emotional condition. The
IMSAFE checklist provides the answers. If there are clouds, is there any icing, current or
forecast? What is the temperature/dew point spread
A = Aircraft and the current temperature at altitude? Can descent
be made safely all along the route?
What limitations will the aircraft impose upon the trip? Ask
the following questions: If icing conditions are encountered, is the pilot
experienced at operating the aircrafts deicing or
Is this the right aircraft for the ight?
anti-icing equipment? Is this equipment in good
Am I familiar with and current in this aircraft? Aircraft condition and functional? For what icing conditions
performance gures and the AFM are based on a brand is the aircraft rated, if any?
new aircraft own by a professional test pilot. Keep
that in mind while assessing personal and aircraft Terrain
performance. Evaluation of terrain is another important component of
Is this aircraft equipped for the ight? Instruments? analyzing the ight environment.
Lights? Navigation and communication equipment To avoid terrain and obstacles, especially at night or
adequate? in low visibility, determine safe altitudes in advance
Can this aircraft use the runways available for the trip by using the altitudes shown on VFR and IFR charts
with an adequate margin of safety under the conditions during preight planning.
to be own? Use maximum elevation gures (MEFs) and other
Can this aircraft carry the planned load? easily obtainable data to minimize chances of an
inight collision with terrain or obstacles.
Can this aircraft operate at the altitudes needed for the
trip?
17-8
Airport The desire to impress someone. (Probably the two
most dangerous words in aviation are Watch this!)
What lights are available at the destination and
alternate airports? VASI/PAPI or ILS glideslope The desire to satisfy a specic personal goal (get-
guidance? Is the terminal airport equipped with them? home-itis, get-there-itis, and lets-go-itis).
Are they working? Will the pilot need to use the radio The pilots general goal-completion orientation.
to activate the airport lights?
Emotional pressure associated with acknowledging
Check the Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) for closed that skill and experience levels may be lower than a
runways or airports. Look for runway or beacon lights pilot would like them to be. Pride can be a powerful
out, nearby towers, etc. external factor!
Choose the ight route wisely. An engine failure gives
the nearby airports supreme importance. Managing External Pressures
Are there shorter or obstructed elds at the destination Management of external pressure is the single most important
amd/or alternate airports? key to risk management because it is the one risk factor
category that can cause a pilot to ignore all the other risk
Airspace factors. External pressures put time-related pressure on the
pilot and gure into a majority of accidents.
If the trip is over remote areas, are appropriate
clothing, water, and survival gear onboard in the event The use of personal standard operating procedures (SOPs) is
of a forced landing? one way to manage external pressures. The goal is to supply a
If the trip includes ying over water or unpopulated release for the external pressures of a ight. These procedures
areas with the chance of losing visual reference to the include but are not limited to:
horizon, the pilot must be prepared to y IFR. Allow time on a trip for an extra fuel stop or to make
Check the airspace and any temporary ight restriction an unexpected landing because of weather.
(TFRs) along the route of ight. Have alternate plans for a late arrival or make backup
airline reservations for must-be-there trips.
Nighttime For really important trips, plan to leave early enough
Night ying requires special consideration. so that there would still be time to drive to the
destination.
If the trip includes flying at night over water or
unpopulated areas with the chance of losing visual Advise those who are waiting at the destination that
reference to the horizon, the pilot must be prepared the arrival may be delayed. Know how to notify them
to y IFR. when delays are encountered.
Will the ight conditions allow a safe emergency Manage passengers expectations. Make sure
landing at night? passengers know that they might not arrive on a rm
schedule, and if they must arrive by a certain time,
Preight all aircraft lights, interior and exterior, for
they should make alternative plans.
a night ight. Carry at least two ashlightsone for
exterior preight and a smaller one that can be dimmed Eliminate pressure to return home, even on a casual
and kept nearby. day ight, by carrying a small overnight kit containing
prescriptions, contact lens solutions, toiletries, or other
E = External Pressures necessities on every ight.
External pressures are inuences external to the ight that
create a sense of pressure to complete a ightoften at the The key to managing external pressure is to be ready for
expense of safety. Factors that can be external pressures and accept delays. Remember that people get delayed when
include the following: traveling on airlines, driving a car, or taking a bus. The pilots
goal is to manage risk, not create hazards. [Figure 17-6]
Someone waiting at the airport for the flights
arrival.
A passenger the pilot does not want to disappoint.
The desire to demonstrate pilot qualications.
17-9
Pilot Aircraft
A pilot must continually make decisions about competency, A pilot will frequently base decisions on the evaluations of the
condition of health, mental and emotional state, level of fatigue, airplane, such as performance, equipment, or airworthiness.
and many other variables. For example, a pilot may be called
early in the morning to make a long flight. If a pilot has had only During a preflight, a pilot noticed a small amount of oil dripping
a few hours of sleep and is concerned that the congestion from the bottom of the cowling. Although the quantity of oil
being experienced could be the onset of a cold, it would be seemed insignificant at the time, the pilot decided to delay the
prudent to consider if the flight could be accomplished safely. takeoff and have a mechanic check the source of the oil.
The pilots good judgment was confirmed when the mechanic
A pilot had only 4 hours of sleep the night before being asked found that one of the oil cooler hose fittings was loose.
by the boss to fly to a meeting in a city 750 miles away. The
reported weather was marginal and not expected to improve.
After assessing fitness as a pilot, it was decided that it would External Pressures
not be wise to make the flight. The boss was initially unhappy, The interaction between the pilot, airplane, and the environment
but later convinced by the pilot that the risks involved were is greatly influenced by the purpose of each flight operation.
unacceptable. The pilot must evaluate the three previous areas to decide on
the desirability of undertaking or continuing the flight as planned.
It is worth asking why the flight is being made, how critical is it to
Environment
maintain the schedule, and is the trip worth the risks?
This encompasses many elements not pilot or airplane related.
It can include such factors as weather, air traffic control, On a ferry flight to deliver an airplane from the factory, in
navigational aids (NAVAIDS), terrain, takeoff and landing marginal weather conditions, the pilot calculated the
areas, and surrounding obstacles. Weather is one element that groundspeed and determined that the airplane would arrive at
can change drastically over time and distance. the destination with only 10 minutes of fuel remaining. The pilot
was determined to keep on schedule by trying to stretch the
A pilot was landing a small airplane just after a heavy jet had fuel supply instead of landing to refuel. After landing with low
departed a parallel runway. The pilot assumed that wake fuel state, the pilot realized that this could have easily resulted
turbulence would not be a problem since landings had been in an emergency landing in deteriorating weather conditions.
performed under similar circumstances. Due to a combination This was a chance that was not worth taking to keep the
of prevailing winds and wake turbulence from the heavy jet planned schedule.
drifting across the landing runway, the airplane made a hard
landing. The pilot made an error when assessing the flight
environment.
17-10
dispatcher, Everyman neglected to complete the fuel cross- Are impulsive rather than methodical and disciplined,
feed check before taking off. Everyman, who was ying both in their information gathering and in the speed
solo, left the right-fuel selector in the cross-feed position. and selection of actions to be taken.
Once aloft and cruising, he noticed a right roll tendency A disregard for or under utilization of outside sources
and corrected with aileron trim. He did not realize that both of information, including copilots, ight attendants,
engines were feeding off the left wings tank, making the ight service personnel, ight instructors, and air
wing lighter. trafc controllers.
After two hours of flight, the right engine quit when The Decision-Making Process
Everyman was ying along a deep canyon gorge. While he
was trying to troubleshoot the cause of the right engines An understanding of the decision-making process provides
failure, the left engine quit. Everyman landed the aircraft on the pilot with a foundation for developing ADM and SRM
a river sand bar but it sank into ten feet of water. skills. While some situations, such as engine failure, require
an immediate pilot response using established procedures,
Several years later Everyman ew a de Havilland Twin Otter there is usually time during a ight to analyze any changes
to deliver supplies to a remote location. When he returned to that occur, gather information, and assess risk before reaching
home base and landed, the aircraft veered sharply to the left, a decision.
departed the runway, and ran into a marsh 375 feet from the
runway. The airframe and engines sustained considerable Risk management and risk intervention is much more than
damage. Upon inspecting the wreck, accident investigators the simple denitions of the terms might suggest. Risk
found the nose wheel steering tiller in the fully deected management and risk intervention are decision-making
position. Both the after takeoff and before landing checklists processes designed to systematically identify hazards,
required the tiller to be placed in the neutral position. assess the degree of risk, and determine the best course of
Everyman had overlooked this item. action. These processes involve the identication of hazards,
followed by assessments of the risks, analysis of the controls,
Now, is Everyman accident prone or just unlucky? Skipping making control decisions, using the controls, and monitoring
details on a checklist appears to be a common theme in the the results.
preceding accidents. While most pilots have made similar
mistakes, these errors were probably caught prior to a mishap The steps leading to this decision constitute a decision-
due to extra margin, good warning systems, a sharp copilot, or making process. Three models of a structured framework
just good luck. What makes a pilot less prone to accidents? for problem-solving and decision-making are the 5-P, the 3P,
the 3 with CARE and TEAM, the OODA, and the DECIDE
The successful pilot possesses the ability to concentrate, models. They provide assistance in organizing the decision
manage workloads, monitor and perform several simultaneous process. All these models have been identied as helpful to
tasks. Some of the latest psychological screenings used the single pilot in organizing critical decisions.
in aviation test applicants for their ability to multitask,
measuring both accuracy, as well as the individuals ability SRM and the 5P Check
to focus attention on several subjects simultaneously. The SRM is about how to gather information, analyze it, and make
FAA oversaw an extensive research study on the similarities decisions. Learning how to identify problems, analyze the
and dissimilarities of accident-free pilots and those who were information, and make informed and timely decisions is not
not. The project surveyed over 4,000 pilots, half of whom as straightforward as the training involved in learning specic
had clean records while the other half had been involved maneuvers. Learning how to judge a situation and how to
in an accident. think in the endless variety of situations encountered while
ying out in the real world is more difcult.
Five traits were discovered in pilots prone to having
accidents. These pilots: There is no one right answer in ADM, rather each pilot is
expected to analyze each situation in light of experience
Have disdain toward rules. level, personal minimums, and current physical and mental
Have very high correlation between accidents on their readiness level, and make his or her own decision.
ying records and safety violations on their driving
records. SRM sounds good on paper, but it requires a way for pilots
Frequently fall into the thrill and adventure seeking to understand and use it in their daily ights. One practical
personality category. application is called the Five Ps (5 Ps) [Figure 17-7] The
17-11
The SRM Five P Check The second easiest point in the ight to make a critical safety
decision is just prior to takeoff. Few pilots have ever had to
The Plan make an emergency takeoff. While the point of the 5P
The Plane check is to help the pilot y, the correct application of the
The Pilot 5P before takeoff is to assist in making a reasoned go no-go
The Passengers decision based on all the information available. That decision
The Programming will usually be to go, with certain restrictions and changes,
but may also be a no-go. The key point is that these two
Figure 16-15. Illustrates the use of The Five-P checklist, which
Figure 17-7. The Five P checklist.
has significant application to those using onboard management points in the process of ying are critical go no-go points on
systems. each and every ight.
5 Ps consist of the Plan, the Plane, the Pilot, the Passengers,
and the Programming. Each of these areas consists of a set of The third place to review the 5 Ps is at the mid point of the
challenges and opportunities that face a single pilot. And each ight. Often, pilots may wait until the Automated Terminal
can substantially increase or decrease the risk of successfully information Service (ATIS) is in range to check weather, yet
completing the ight based on the pilots ability to make at this point in the ight many good options have already
informed and timely decisions. The 5 Ps are used to evaluate passed behind the aircraft and pilot. Additionally, fatigue
the pilots current situation at key decision points during the and low-altitude hypoxia serve to rob the pilot of much of
ight, or when an emergency arises. These decision points his or her energy by the end of a long and tiring ight day.
include, preight, pretakeoff, hourly or at the midpoint of This leads to a transition from a decision-making mode to an
the ight, pre-descent, and just prior to the nal approach acceptance mode on the part of the pilot. If the ight is longer
x or for visual ight rules (VFR) operations, just prior to than 2 hours, the 5P check should be conducted hourly.
entering the trafc pattern.
The last two decision points are just prior to descent into the
The 5 Ps are based on the idea that the pilots have essentially terminal area and just prior to the nal approach x, or if
ve variables that impact his or her environment and that can VFR just prior to entering the trafc pattern, as preparations
cause the pilot to make a single critical decision, or several for landing commence. Most pilots execute approaches with
less critical decisions, that when added together can create the expectation that they will land out of the approach every
a critical outcome. These variables are the Plan, the Plane, time. A healthier approach requires the pilot to assume that
the Pilot, the Passengers, and the Programming. This concept changing conditions (the 5 Ps again) will cause the pilot to
stems from the belief that current decision-making models divert or execute the missed approach on every approach.
tended to be reactionary in nature. A change has to occur and This keeps the pilot alert to all manner of conditions that
be detected to drive a risk management decision by the pilot. may increase risk and threaten the safe conduct of the ight.
For instance, many pilots use risk management sheets that are Diverting from cruise altitude saves fuel, allows unhurried
lled out by the pilot prior to takeoff. These form a catalog use of the autopilot, and is less reactive in nature. Diverting
of risks that may be encountered that day and turn them into from the nal approach x, while more difcult, still allows
numerical values. If the total exceeds a certain level, the ight the pilot to plan and coordinate better, rather than executing
is altered or cancelled. Informal research shows that while a futile missed approach. Lets look at a detailed discussion
these are useful documents for teaching risk factors, they are of each of the Five Ps.
almost never used outside of formal training programs. The
5P concept is an attempt to take the information contained in The Plan
those sheets and in the other available models and use it.
The Plan can also be called the mission or the task. It
contains the basic elements of cross-country planning,
The 5P concept relies on the pilot to adopt a scheduled
weather, route, fuel, publications currency, etc. The Plan
review of the critical variables at points in the ight where
should be reviewed and updated several times during the
decisions are most likely to be effective. For instance, the
course of the ight. A delayed takeoff due to maintenance,
easiest point to cancel a ight due to bad weather is before the
fast moving weather, and a short notice TFR may all radically
pilot and passengers walk out the door and load the aircraft.
alter the plan. The plan is not only about the ight plan,
So the rst decision point is preight in the ight planning
but also all the events that surround the ight and allow the
room, where all the information is readily available to make
pilot to accomplish the mission. The plan is always being
a sound decision, and where communication and Fixed
updated and modied and is especially responsive to changes
Base Operator (FBO) services are readily available to make
in the other four remaining Ps. If for no other reason, the 5P
alternate travel plans.
17-12
check reminds the pilot that the days ight plan is real life highly capable single-engine aircraft has entered into a very
and subject to change at any time. personal relationship with the passengers. In fact, the pilot
and passengers sit within an arms reach all of the time.
Obviously weather is a huge part of any plan. The addition
of datalink weather information give the advanced avionics The desire of the passengers to make airline connections or
pilot a real advantage in inclement weather, but only if important business meetings easily enters into this pilots
the pilot is trained to retrieve, and evaluate the weather in decision-making loop. Done in a healthy and open way, this
real time without sacricing situational awareness. And of can be a positive factor. Consider a ight to Dulles Airport
course, weather information should drive a decision, even and the passengers, both close friends and business partners,
if that decision is to continue on the current plan. Pilots of need to get to Washington, D.C., for an important meeting.
aircraft without datalink weather should get updated weather The weather is VFR all the way to southern Virginia then turns
in ight through a Flight Service Station (FSS) and/or Flight to low IFR as the pilot approaches Dulles. A pilot employing
Watch. the 5P approach might consider reserving a rental car at an
airport in northern North Carolina or southern Virginia to
The Plane coincide with a refueling stop. Thus, the passengers have a
Both the plan and the plane are fairly familiar to most way to get to Washington, and the pilot has an out to avoid
pilots. The plane consists of the usual array of mechanical being pressured into continuing the ight if the conditions
and cosmetic issues that every aircraft pilot, owner, or do not improve.
operator can identify. With the advent of advanced avionics,
the plane has expanded to include database currency, Passengers can also be pilots. If no one is designated as pilot
automation status, and emergency backup systems that were in command (PIC) and unplanned circumstances arise, the
unknown a few years ago. Much has been written about single decision-making styles of several self-condent pilots may
pilot IFR ight both with and without an autopilot. While this come into conict.
is a personal decision, it is just thata decision. Low IFR
in a non-autopilot equipped aircraft may depend on several Pilots also need to understand that non-pilots may not
of the other Ps to be discussed. Pilot prociency, currency, understand the level of risk involved in the ight. There is
and fatigue are among them. an element of risk in every ight. That is why SRM calls it
risk management, not risk elimination. While a pilot may feel
The Pilot comfortable with the risk present in a night IFR ight, the
passengers may not. A pilot employing SRM should ensure
Flying, especially when used for business transportation,
the passengers are involved in the decision-making and given
can expose the pilot to high altitude ying, long distance
tasks and duties to keep them busy and involved. If, upon a
and endurance, and more challenging weather. An advanced
factual description of the risks present, the passengers decide
avionics aircraft, simply due to their advanced capabilities can
to buy an airline ticket or rent a car, then a good decision has
expose a pilot to even more of these stresses. The traditional
generally been made. This discussion also allows the pilot
IMSAFE checklist (see page 17-6) is a good start.
to move past what he or she thinks the passengers want to
do and nd out what they actually want to do. This removes
The combination of late night, pilot fatigue, and the effects
self-induced pressure from the pilot.
of sustained ight above 5,000 feet may cause pilots to
become less discerning, less critical of information, less
decisive and more compliant and accepting. Just as the most The Programming
critical portion of the ight approaches (for instance a night The advanced avionics aircraft adds an entirely new
instrument approach, in the weather, after a 4-hour ight) the dimension to the way GA aircraft are own. The electronic
pilots guard is down the most. The 5P process helps a pilot instrument displays, GPS, and autopilot reduce pilot
recognize the physiological situation at the end of the ight workload and increase pilot situational awareness. While
before takeoff, and continues to update personal conditions programming and operation of these devices are fairly simple
as the ight progresses. Once risks are identied, the pilot is and straightforward, unlike the analog instruments they
in an innitely better place to make alternate plans that lessen replace, they tend to capture the pilots attention and hold it
the effect of these factors and provide a safer solution. for long periods of time. To avoid this phenomenon, the pilot
should plan in advance when and where the programming
The Passengers for approaches, route changes, and airport information
gathering should be accomplished as well as times it should
One of the key differences between CRM and SRM is
not. Pilot familiarity with the equipment, the route, the local
the way passengers interact with the pilot. The pilot of a
17-13
air trafc control environment, and personal capabilities vis- of risk depends on a number of other factors, such as pilot
-vis the automation should drive when, where, and how the training and experience, aircraft equipment and fuel capacity,
automation is programmed and used. and others.
The pilot should also consider what his or her capabilities In the third step, the goal is to perform by taking action to
are in response to last minute changes of the approach (and eliminate hazards or mitigate risk, and then continuously
the reprogramming required) and ability to make large- evaluate the outcome of this action. With the example of low
scale changes (a reroute for instance) while hand ying the ceilings at destination, for instance, the pilot can perform
aircraft. Since formats are not standardized, simply moving good ADM by selecting a suitable alternate, knowing where
from one manufacturers equipment to another should give to nd good weather, and carrying sufcient fuel to reach
the pilot pause and require more conservative planning and it. This course of action would mitigate the risk. The pilot
decisions. also has the option to eliminate it entirely by waiting for
better weather.
The SRM process is simple. At least ve times before and
during the ight, the pilot should review and consider the Plan, Once the pilot has completed the 3P decision process and
the Plane, the Pilot, the Passengers, and the Programming selected a course of action, the process begins anew because
and make the appropriate decision required by the current now the set of circumstances brought about by the course of
situation. It is often said that failure to make a decision is a action requires analysis. The decision-making process is a
decision. Under SRM and the 5 Ps, even the decision to make continuous loop of perceiving, processing and performing.
no changes to the current plan, is made through a careful
consideration of all the risk factors present. With practice and consistent use, running through the 3P
cycle can become a habit that is as smooth, continuous, and
Perceive, Process, Perform (3P) automatic as a well-honed instrument scan. This basic set of
The Perceive, Process, Perform (3P) model for ADM offers practical risk management tools can be used to improve risk
a simple, practical, and systematic approach that can be used management. The 3P model has been expanded to include the
during all phases of ight. To use it, the pilot will: CARE and TEAM models which offers pilots another way
to assess and reduce risks associated with ying.
Perceive the given set of circumstances for a ight.
Perceive, Process, Perform with CARE and TEAM
Process by evaluating their impact on ight safety.
Most ight training activities take place in the time-critical
Perform by implementing the best course of action. timeframe for risk management. Figures 17-8 and 17-9
combine the six steps of risk management into an easy-to-
In the rst step, the goal is to develop situational awareness remember 3P model for practical risk management: Perceive,
by perceiving hazards, which are present events, objects, or Process, Perform with the CARE and TEAM models. Pilots
circumstances that could contribute to an undesired future can help perceive hazards by using the PAVE checklist
event. In this step, the pilot will systematically identify and of: Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, and External pressures.
list hazards associated with all aspects of the ight: pilot, They can process hazards by using the CARE checklist
aircraft, environment, and external pressures. It is important of: Consequences, Alternatives, Reality, External factors.
to consider how individual hazards might combine. Consider, Finally, pilots can perform risk management by using
for example, the hazard that arises when a new instrument the TEAM choice list of: Transfer, Eliminate, Accept, or
pilot with no experience in actual instrument conditions wants Mitigate. These concepts are relatively new in the GA training
to make a cross-country ight to an airport with low ceilings world, but have been shown to be extraordinarily useful in
in order to attend an important business meeting. lowering accident rates in the world of air carriers.
17-14
Pilots can perceive hazards by using the PAVE checklist: EnVironment
Departure and destination airports have long runways.
Weather is the main hazard. Although it is VFR, it is a typical
summer day in the Mid-Atlantic region: hot (near 90 F) hazy
Pilot (visibility 7 miles), and humid with a density altitude of 2,500
Gayle is a healthy and well-rested private pilot with approxi- feet. Weather at the destination airport (located in the
mately 300 hours total flight time. Hazards include her lack of mountains) is still IMC, but forecast to improve to visual
overall and cross-country experience and the fact that she has meteorological conditions (VMC) prior to her arrival. En route
not flown at all in two months. weather is VMC, but there is an AIRMET Sierra for pockets of
IMC over mountain ridges along the proposed route of flight.
Aircraft
Although it does not have a panel-mount GPS or weather External Pressures
avoidance gear, the aircrafta C182 Skylane with long-range Gayle is making the trip to spend a weekend with relatives she
fuel tanksis in good mechanical condition with no inoperative does not see very often. Her family is very excited and has
equipment. The instrument panel is a standard six-pack. made a number of plans for the visit.
Pilots can perform risk management by using the TEAM choice list:
Pilot Aircraft
To manage the risk associated with her inexperience and lack To manage risk associated with any doubts about the aircrafts
of recent flight time, Gayle can: mechanical condition, Gayle can:
Transfer the risk entirely by having another pilot act as PIC. Transfer the risk by using a different airplane.
Eliminate the risk by canceling the trip. Eliminate the risk by canceling the trip.
Accept the risk and fly anyway. Accept the risk.
Mitigate the risk by flying with another pilot. Mitigate the remaining (residual) risk through review of
aircraft performance and careful preflight inspection.
Gayle chooses to mitigate the major risk by hiring a CFI to
accompany her and provide dual cross-country instruction. Since she finds no problems with the aircrafts mechanical
An added benefit is the opportunity to broaden her flying condition, Gayle chooses to mitigate any remaining risk
experience. through careful preflight inspection of the aircraft.
Detailed preflight planning must be a vital part of Gayles Gayle and her co-pilot choose to address this risk by agreeing
weather risk mitigation strategy. The most direct route would that each pilot has a veto on continuing the flight, and that they
put her over mountains for most of the trip. Because of the will divert if either becomes uncomfortable with flight conditions.
thick haze and pockets of IMC over mountains, Gayle might Because the destination airport is still IMC at the time of
mitigate the risk by modifying the route to fly over valleys. This departure, Gayle establishes a specific point in the tripan en
change will add 30 minutes to her estimated time of arrival route VORTAC located between the destination airport and the
(ETA), but the extra time is a small price to pay for avoiding two alternatesas the logical place for her final continue/
possible IMC over mountains. Because her destination airport divert decision. Rather than give her family a specific ETA that
is IMC at the time of departure, Gayle needs to establish that might make Gayle feel pressured to meet the schedule, she
VFR conditions exist at other airports within easy driving manages her familys expectations by advising them that she
distance of her original destination. In addition, Gayle should will call when she arrives.
review basic information (e.g., traffic pattern altitude, runway
layout, frequencies) for these alternate airports. To further
mitigate risk and practice good cockpit resource management,
Gayle should file a VFR flight plan, use VFR flight following,
and call Flight Watch to get weather updates en route. Finally,
basic functions on her handheld GPS should also be practiced.
Figure 17-8. A real-world example of how the 3P model guides decisions on a cross-country trip.
17-15
Pilots can perceive hazards by using the CARE checklist:
Pilot Aircraft
Consequences: Gayles inexperience and lack of recent Consequences: This area presents low risk because the
flight time create some risk of an accident, primarily because aircraft is in excellent mechanical condition and Gayle is
she plans to travel over mountains on a hazy day and land familiar with its avionics.
at an unfamiliar mountain airport that is still in IMC Alternatives: Had there been a problem with her aircraft,
conditions. Gayle might have considered renting another plane from her
Alternatives: Gayle might mitigate the pilot-related risk by flight school. Bear in mind, however, that alternatives
hiring a CFI to accompany her and provide dual cross- sometimes create new hazards. In this instance, there may
country instruction. An added benefit is the opportunity to be hazards associated with flying an unfamiliar aircraft with
broaden her flying experience in safe conditions. different avionics.
Reality: Accepting the reality that limited experience can Reality: It is important to recognize the reality of an aircrafts
create additional risk is a key part of sound risk management mechanical condition. If you find a maintenance discrepancy
and mitigation. and then find yourself saying that it is probably okay to fly
External Factors: Like many pilots, Gayle must contend with with it anyway, you need to revisit the consequences part of
the emotional pressure associated with acknowledging that this checklist.
her skill and experience levels may be lower than she would External Factors: Pilot decision-making can sometimes be
like them to be. Pride can be a powerful external factor! influenced by the external pressure of needing to return the
airplane to the FBO by a certain date and time. Because
Environment Gayle owns the airplane, there was no such pressure in this
case.
Consequences: For a pilot whose experience consists
mostly of local flights in good VMC, launching a long cross-
country flight over mountainous terrain in hazy conditions External Pressures
could lead to pilot disorientation and increase the risk of an Consequences: Any number of factors can create risk of
accident. emotional pressure from a get-there mentality. In Gayles
Alternatives: Options include postponing the trip until the case, the consequences of her strong desire to visit family,
visibility improves, or modifying the route to avoid extended her familys expectations, and personal pride could induce
periods of time over the mountains. her to accept unnecessary risk.
Reality: Hazy conditions and mountainous terrain clearly Alternatives: Gayle clearly needs to develop a mitigating
create risk for an inexperienced VFR-only pilot. strategy for each of the external factors associated with this
External Factors: Few pilots are immune to the pressure of trip.
get-there-itis, which can sometimes induce a decision to Reality: Pilots sometimes tend to discount or ignore the
launch or continue in less than ideal weather conditions. potential impact of these external factors. Gayles open
acknowledgement of these factors (e.g., I might be
pressured into pressing on so my mother wont have to
worry about our late arrival.) is a critical element of effective
risk management.
External Factors: (see above)
Figure 17-9. Additional real-world examples of how the 3P model guides decisions on a cross-country trip.
Forming Good Safety Habits Loop is now used as a standard description of decision-
While the 3P model is similar to other methods, there are making cycles.
two good reasons to use the 3P model. First, the 3P model
gives pilots a structured, efcient, and systematic way to The Loop is an interlaced decision model which provides
identify hazards, assess risk, and implement effective risk immediate feedback throughout the decision-making process.
controls. Second, practicing risk management needs to be as For SRM purposes, an abbreviated version of the concept
automatic in GA ying as basic aircraft control. As is true [Figure 17-10] provides an easily understood tool for the
for other ying skills, risk management thinking habits are pilot.
best developed through repetition and consistent adherence
to specic procedures. The rst node of the Loop, Observe, reects the need for
situational awareness. A pilot must be aware of those things
The OODA Loop around him or her that may impact the ight. Continuous
Colonel John Boyd, United States Air Forces (Retired), monitoring of aircraft controls, weather, etc., provides a
coined the term and developed the concept of the OODA constant reference point by which the pilot knows his or
Loop (Observation, Orientation, Decision, Action). The her starting point on the loop which permits the ability to
ideas, words, and phrases contained in Boyds briengs have immediately move to the next step.
penetrated not only the United States military services, but the
business community and worldwide academia. The OODA
17-16
First, consider a recent accident involving a Piper Apache (PA-
23). The aircraft was substantially damaged during impact
OBSERVE
with terrain at a local airport in Alabama. The certicated
airline transport pilot (ATP) received minor injuries and the
certicated private pilot was not injured. The private pilot
was receiving a checkride from the ATP (who was also a
designated examiner) for a commercial pilot certicate with
a multi-engine rating. After performing airwork at altitude,
ACT ORIENT they returned to the airport and the private pilot performed a
single-engine approach to a full stop landing. He then taxied
back for takeoff, performed a short eld takeoff, and then
joined the trafc pattern to return for another landing. During
the approach for the second landing, the ATP simulated a right
engine failure by reducing power on the right engine to zero
thrust. This caused the aircraft to yaw right.
DECIDE
17-17
Aeronautical Decision-Making
A. Analytical B. Automatic/Naturalistic
Situation
Pilot Aircraft Enviroment External Factors
Detection Detection
Evaluation of event
Evaluation of event
Risk or hazard
Potential outcomes
Capabilities of pilot
Aircraft capabilities
Risk to flight
Outside factors
Pilot training
Pilot experience
Outcome desired
Outcome desired
Solutions to get you there
Solution 1
Solution 2
Solution 3
Solution 4
Take action
Effect of decision
Successful
Problem remains
Done
1.
2.
3.
4
5.
6.
Figure 17-11. The DECIDE model has been recognized worldwide. Its application is illustrated in A while automatic/naturalistic
decision-making is shown in B.
17-18
Since the pilot never executed the rst step of identifying the environment. Experience, discipline, awareness, and
which engine failed, he feathered the left engine and set the knowledge will inuence how a pilot ranks a problem.
right engine at zero thrust. This essentially restricted the
aircraft to a controlled glide. Upon realizing that he was not Choose (a Course of Action)
going to make the runway, the pilot increased power to both After the problem has been identified and its impact
engines causing an enormous yaw to the left (the left propeller estimated, the pilot must determine the desirable outcome
was feathered) whereupon the aircraft started to turn left. and choose a course of action. In the case of the multiengine
In desperation, the instructor closed both throttles and the pilot given the simulated failed engine, the desired objective
aircraft hit the ground and was substantially damaged. is to safely land the airplane.
17-19
Automatic Decision-Making and prevents complacency. Effects of stress are cumulative
In an emergency situation, a pilot might not survive if he or and, if the pilot does not cope with them in an appropriate
she rigorously applied analytical models to every decision way, they can eventually add up to an intolerable burden.
made; there is not enough time to go through all the options. Performance generally increases with the onset of stress,
But under these circumstances does he or she nd the best peaks, and then begins to fall off rapidly as stress levels
possible solution to every problem? exceed a persons ability to cope. The ability to make
effective decisions during ight can be impaired by stress.
For the past several decades, research into how people There are two categories of stressacute and chronic. These
actually make decisions has revealed that when pressed for are both explained in Chapter 16, Aeromedical Factors.
time, experts faced with a task loaded with uncertainty, rst
assess whether the situation strikes them as familiar. Rather Factors referred to as stressors can increase a pilots risk of
than comparing the pros and cons of different approaches, error in the ight deck. [Figure 17-13] Remember the cabin
they quickly imagine how one or a few possible courses of door that suddenly opened in ight on the Mooney climbing
action in such situations will play out. Experts take the rst through 1,500 feet on a clear sunny day? It may startle the
workable option they can nd. While it may not be the best of pilot, but the stress would wane when it became apparent
all possible choices, it often yields remarkably good results. the situation was not a serious hazard. Yet, if the cabin door
opened in IMC conditions, the stress level makes signicant
The terms naturalistic and automatic decision-making have impact on the pilots ability to cope with simple tasks. The
been coined to describe this type of decision-making. The key to stress management is to stop, think, and analyze before
ability to make automatic decisions holds true for a range jumping to a conclusion. There is usually time to think before
of experts from re ghters to chess players. It appears the drawing unnecessary conclusions.
experts ability hinges on the recognition of patterns and
consistencies that clarify options in complex situations. There are several techniques to help manage the accumulation
Experts appear to make provisional sense of a situation, of life stresses and prevent stress overload. For example, to
without actually reaching a decision, by launching experience- help reduce stress levels, set aside time for relaxation each
based actions that in turn trigger creative revisions. day or maintain a program of physical tness. To prevent
stress overload, learn to manage time more effectively to
This is a reexive type of decision-making anchored in avoid pressures imposed by getting behind schedule and not
training and experience and is most often used in times of meeting deadlines.
emergencies when there is no time to practice analytical
decision-making. Naturalistic or automatic decision-making Use of Resources
improves with training and experience, and a pilot will nd To make informed decisions during ight operations, a pilot
himself or herself using a combination of decision-making must also become aware of the resources found inside and
tools that correlate with individual experience and training. outside the ight deck. Since useful tools and sources of
information may not always be readily apparent, learning
Operational Pitfalls to recognize these resources is an essential part of ADM
Although more experienced pilots are likely to make more training. Resources must not only be identied, but a pilot
automatic decisions, there are tendencies or operational must also develop the skills to evaluate whether there is
pitfalls that come with the development of pilot experience. time to use a particular resource and the impact its use will
These are classic behavioral traps into which pilots have have upon the safety of ight. For example, the assistance
been known to fall. More experienced pilots (as a rule) try of ATC may be very useful if a pilot becomes lost, but in
to complete a ight as planned, please passengers, and meet an emergency situation, there may be no time available to
schedules. The desire to meet these goals can have an adverse contact ATC.
effect on safety and contribute to an unrealistic assessment
of piloting skills. All experienced pilots have fallen prey to, Internal Resources
or have been tempted by, one or more of these tendencies in One of the most underutilized resources may be the person in
their ying careers. These dangerous tendencies or behavior the right seat, even if the passenger has no ying experience.
patterns, which must be identied and eliminated, include When appropriate, the PIC can ask passengers to assist with
the operational pitfalls shown in Figure 17-12. certain tasks, such as watching for trafc or reading checklist
items. Some other ways a passenger can assist:
Stress Management Provide information in an irregular situation, especially
Everyone is stressed to some degree almost all of the time. A if familiar with ying. A strange smell or sound may
certain amount of stress is good since it keeps a person alert alert a passenger to a potential problem.
17-20
Operational Pitfalls
Peer Pressure
Poor decision-making may be based upon an emotional response to peers, rather than evaluating a situation objectively.
Mind Set
A pilot displays mind set through an inability to recognize and cope with changes in a given situation.
Get-there-itis
This disposition impairs pilot judgment through a fixation on the original goal or destination, combined with a disregard for any
alternative course of action.
Duck-Under Syndrome
A pilot may be tempted to make it into an airport by descending below minimums during an approach. There may be a belief that
there is a built-in margin of error in every approach procedure, or a pilot may want to admit that the landing cannot be completed
and a missed approach must be initiated.
Scud Running
This occurs when a pilot tries to maintain visual contact with the terrain at low altitudes while instrument conditions exist.
Stressors
Environmental
Conditions associated with the environment, such as
temperature and humidity extremes, noise, vibration, and lack
of oxygen.
Physiological Stress
Physical conditions, such as fatigue, lack of physical fitness,
sleep loss, missed meals (leading to low blood sugar levels),
and illness.
17-21
Confirm after the pilot that the landing gear is It is necessary for a pilot to have a thorough understanding
down. of all the equipment and systems in the aircraft being own.
Learn to look at the altimeter for a given altitude in a Lack of knowledge, such as knowing if the oil pressure
descent. gauge is direct reading or uses a sensor, is the difference
between making a wise decision or poor one that leads to a
Listen to logic or lack of logic. tragic error.
Also, the process of a verbal brieng (which can happen Checklists are essential ight deck internal resources. They
whether or not passengers are aboard) can help the PIC in are used to verify the aircraft instruments and systems are
the decision-making process. For example, assume a pilot checked, set, and operating properly, as well as ensuring
provides a lone passenger a brieng of the forecast landing the proper procedures are performed if there is a system
weather before departure. When the Automatic Terminal malfunction or inight emergency. Students reluctant to
Information Service (ATIS) is picked up, the weather has use checklists can be reminded that pilots at all levels of
signicantly changed. The discussion of this forecast change experience refer to checklists, and that the more advanced the
can lead the pilot to reexamine his or her activities and aircraft is, the more crucial checklists become. In addition, the
decision-making. [Figure 17-14] Other valuable internal pilots operating handbook (POH) is required to be carried on
resources include ingenuity, aviation knowledge, and ying board the aircraft and is essential for accurate ight planning
skill. Pilots can increase ight deck resources by improving and resolving inight equipment malfunctions. However, the
these characteristics. most valuable resource a pilot has is the ability to manage
workload whether alone or with others.
When flying alone, another internal resource is verbal
communication. It has been established that verbal External Resources
communication reinforces an activity; touching an object
Air trafc controllers and ight service specialists are the best
while communicating further enhances the probability an
external resources during ight. In order to promote the safe,
activity has been accomplished. For this reason, many solo
orderly ow of air trafc around airports and, along ight
pilots read the checklist out loud; when they reach critical
routes, the ATC provides pilots with trafc advisories, radar
items, they touch the switch or control. For example, to
vectors, and assistance in emergency situations. Although
ascertain the landing gear is down, the pilot can read the
it is the PICs responsibility to make the ight as safe as
checklist. But, if he or she touches the gear handle during the
possible, a pilot with a problem can request assistance from
process, a safe extension of the landing gear is conrmed.
ATC. [Figure 17-15] For example, if a pilot needs to level
off, be given a vector, or decrease speed, ATC assists and
Figure 17-14. When possible, have a passenger reconfirm that critical tasks are completed.
17-22
request practice DF guidance and approaches in VFR weather
conditions.
Situational Awareness
Situational awareness is the accurate perception and
understanding of all the factors and conditions within
the ve fundamental risk elements (ight, pilot, aircraft,
environment, and type of operation that comprise any given
aviation situation) that affect safety before, during, and after
the ight. Monitoring radio communications for trafc,
weather discussion, and ATC communication can enhance
situational awareness by helping the pilot develop a mental
picture of what is happening.
17-23
Recognizing a work overload situation is also an important
component of managing workload. The first effect of
high workload is that the pilot may be working harder but
accomplishing less. As workload increases, attention cannot
be devoted to several tasks at one time, and the pilot may
begin to focus on one item. When a pilot becomes task
saturated, there is no awareness of input from various sources,
so decisions may be made on incomplete information and the
possibility of error increases. [Figure 17-17]
High
Task Load
b i l i t i e s
Capa
Low
Preflig
ht
Pilot
Time
Takeo
ents
ff
equirem
Cruise
Task R
Appro
ach &
Landin
g
Figure 17-17. The pilot has a certain capacity of doing work and handling tasks. However, there is a point where the tasking exceeds the
pilots capability. When this happens, tasks are either not done properly or some are not done at all.
17-24
Brief passengers using the SAFETY list: Automation is the single most important advance in aviation
S Seat belts fastened for taxi, takeoff, landing technologies. Electronic ight displays (EFDs) have made
vast improvements in how information is displayed and
Shoulder harness fastened for takeoff, landing what information is available to the pilot. Pilots can access
Seat position adjusted and locked in place electronic databases that contain all of the information
traditionally contained in multiple handbooks, reducing
A Air vents (location and operation)
clutter in the ight deck. [Figure 17-18]
All environmental controls (discussed)
Action in case of any passenger discomfort Multifunction displays (MFDs) are capable of displaying
moving maps that mirror sectional charts. These detailed
F Fire extinguisher (location and operation)
displays depict all airspace, including Temporary Flight
E Exit doors (how to secure; how to open) Restrictions (TFRs). MFDs are so descriptive that many
Emergency evacuation plan pilots fall into the trap of relying solely on the moving
maps for navigation. Pilots also draw upon the database to
Emergency/survival kit (location and contents) familiarize themselves with departure and destination airport
T Trafc (scanning, spotting, notifying pilot) information.
Talking, (sterile ight deck expectations)
More pilots now rely on electronic databases for ight
Y Your questions? (Speak up!) planning and use automated ight planning tools rather than
planning the ight by the traditional methods of laying out
In addition to the SAFETY list, discuss with charts, drawing the course, identifying navigation points
passengers whether or not smoking is permitted, ight (assuming a VFR ight), and using the POH to gure out
route altitudes, time en route, destination, weather the weight and balance and performance charts. Whichever
during ight, expected weather at the destination, method a pilot chooses to plan a ight, it is important to
controls and what they do, and the general capabilities remember to check and conrm calculations
and limitations of the aircraft.
Although automation has made ying safer, automated
Use a sterile ight deck (one that is completely silent
systems can make some errors more evident, and sometimes
with no pilot communication with passengers or by
hide other errors or make them less evident. There are concerns
passengers) from the time of departure to the rst
about the effect of automation on pilots. In a study published
intermediate altitude and clearance from the local
in 1995, the British Airline Pilots Association ofcially
airspace.
voiced its concern that Airline pilots increasingly lack basic
Use a sterile flight deck during arrival from the ying skills as a result of reliance on automation.
rst radar vector for approach or descent for the
approach. This reliance on automation translates into a lack of basic
Keep the passengers informed during times when the ying skills that may affect the pilots ability to cope with
workload is low. an inight emergency, such as sudden mechanical failure.
The worry that pilots are becoming too reliant on automated
Consider using the passenger in the right seat for
systems and are not being encouraged or trained to y
simple tasks such as holding the chart. This relieves
manually has grown with the increase in the number of MFD
the pilot of a task.
ight decks.
17-25
Figure 17-18. Electronic flight instrumentation comes in many systems and provides a myriad of information to the pilot.
Figure 16-10. Electronic Flight instrumentation come in many systems and provides a myriad of information to the pilot.
17-26
crews deteriorated due to over-reliance on computers. The While a pilots lack of familiarity with the EFIS is often
ight crew managers said they worried that pilots would have an issue, the approach would have been made easier by
less stick-and-rudder prociency when those skills were disengaging the automated system and manually ying the
needed to manually resume direct control of the aircraft. approach. At the time of this study, the general guidelines
in the industry were to let the automated system do as much
A major study was conducted to evaluate the performance of the ying as possible. That view has since changed and
of two groups of pilots. The control group was composed it is recommended that pilots use their best judgment when
of pilots who ew an older version of a common twin- choosing which level of automation will most efciently
jet airliner equipped with analog instrumentation and the do the task considering the workload and situational
experimental group was composed of pilots who ew the awareness.
same aircraft, but newer models equipped with an electronic
ight instrument system (EFIS) and a ight management Emergency maneuvers clearly broadened the difference in
system (FMS). The pilots were evaluated in maintaining manual ying skills between the two groups. In general, the
aircraft parameters such as heading, altitude, airspeed, analog pilots tended to y raw data, so when they were given
glideslope, and localizer deviations, as well as pilot control an emergency such as an engine failure and were instructed
inputs. These were recorded during a variety of normal, to y the maneuver without a ight director, they performed
abnormal, and emergency maneuvers during 4 hours of it expertly. By contrast, SOP for EFIS operations at the time
simulator sessions. was to use the ight director. When EFIS crews had their
ight directors disabled, their eye scan again began a more
Results of the Study erratic searching pattern and their manual ying subsequently
When pilots who had own EFIS for several years were suffered.
required to y various maneuvers manually, the aircraft
parameters and ight control inputs clearly showed some Those who reviewed the data saw that the EFIS pilots who
erosion of ying skills. During normal maneuvers such as better managed the automation also had better ying skills.
turns to headings without a ight director, the EFIS group While the data did not reveal whether those skills preceded
exhibited somewhat greater deviations than the analog group. or followed automation, it did indicate that automation
Most of the time, the deviations were within the practical test management needed to be improved. Recommended best
standards (PTS), but the pilots denitely did not keep on the practices and procedures have remedied some of the earlier
localizer and glideslope as smoothly as the analog group. problems with automation.
The differences in hand-ying skills between the two groups Pilots need to maintain their ight skills and ability to
became more signicant during abnormal maneuvers such maneuver aircraft manually within the standards set forth in
as slam-dunks. When given close crossing restrictions, the the PTS. It is recommended that pilots of automated aircraft
analog crews were more adept at the mental math and usually occasionally disengage the automation and manually y
maneuvered the aircraft in a smoother manner to make the the aircraft to maintain stick-and-rudder prociency. It
restriction. On the other hand, the EFIS crews tended to go is imperative pilots understand that the EFD adds to the
heads down and tried to solve the crossing restriction on overall quality of the ight experience, but it can also lead to
the FMS. [Figure 17-19] catastrophe if not utilized properly. At no time is the moving
map meant to substitute for a VFR sectional or low altitude
Another situation used in the simulator experiment reected en route chart.
real world changes in approach that are common and can
be assigned on short notice. Once again, the analog crews
transitioned more easily to the parallel runways localizer,
whereas the EFIS crews had a much more difcult time, with
the pilot going head down for a signicant amount of time
trying to program the new approach into the FMS.
17-27
N 3
33
6
30
GS
E
12
24
NAV
15
OBS
21 S
N 3
33
6
30
W
E
12
24
15
OBS
21 S
N 3
33
30
6
W
E
12
24
15
21 S
HDG
NAV1 108.00 113.00 WPT _ _ _ _ _ _ DIS _ _ ._ NM DTK _ _ _ TRK 360 134.000 118.000 COM1
NAV2 108.00 110.60 123.800 118.000 COM2
4000
130 4300
2
120 4200
1
110 4100
1 60
100 44000
000
9 20
90 3900
1
80 3800
270 2
70
TAS 106KT
4300
OAT 7C
VOR 1
Figure17-19.
Figure 16-11. Figure
Two 16-11
similar illustrates
flight two similar
decks equipped cockpits
with the equipped with
same information twothe same ways,
different information
analogtwo
anddifferent ways,are
digital. What analog on the left
they indicating?
and digital
Chances are on
thatthe
theright. What
analog pilotare
willthey indicating?
review Chances
the top display are that
before the analog
the bottom pilotConversely,
display. will reviewthe
thedigitally
display on the left
trained before
pilot the
will review
display on the right. Conversely the
the instrument panel on the bottom first. digitally trained pilot will review the instrument panel on the right side first.
17-28
Equipment Use Respect for Onboard Systems
Autopilot Systems Automation can assist the pilot in many ways, but a thorough
In a single-pilot environment, an autopilot system can greatly understanding of the system(s) in use is essential to gaining
reduce workload. [Figure 17-20] As a result, the pilot is free the benets it can offer. Understanding leads to respect
to focus his or her attention on other ight deck duties. This which is achieved through discipline and the mastery of the
can improve situational awareness and reduce the possibility onboard systems. It is important to y the airplane using
of a CFIT accident. While the addition of an autopilot may minimal information from the primary ight display (PFD).
certainly be considered a risk control measure, the real This includes turns, climbs, descents, and being able to y
challenge comes in determining the impact of an inoperative approaches.
unit. If the autopilot is known to be inoperative prior to
departure, this may factor into the evaluation other risks. Reinforcement of Onboard Suites
The use of an electronic flight display may not seem
intuitive, but competency becomes better with understanding
and practice. Computer-based software and incremental
training help the pilot become comfortable with the onboard
suites. Then the pilot needs to practice what was learned
in order to gain experience. Reinforcement not only yields
dividends in the use of automation, it also reduces workload
signicantly.
17-29
advanced avionics aircraft Safety Study found that poor
decision-making seems to afict new advanced avionics
pilots at a rate higher than that of GA as a whole. The review
of advanced avionics accidents cited in this study shows the
majority are not caused by something directly related to the
aircraft, but by the pilots lack of experience and a chain of
poor decisions. One consistent theme in many of the fatal
accidents is continued VFR ight into IMC.
Information Management
For the newly transitioning pilot, the PFD, MFD, and GPS/
VHF navigator screens seem to offer too much information
presented in colorful menus and submenus. In fact, the pilot
may be drowning in information but unable to nd a specic
piece of information. It might be helpful to remember these
systems are similar to computers which store some folders
on a desktop and some within a hierarchy.
17-30
information ow to accomplish specic tasks. Certicated into the navigation system? Calloutseven for single-pilot
ight instructors (CFIs) as well as pilots transitioning to operationsare an excellent way to maintain situational
advanced avionics will nd it helpful to corral the information awareness as well as manage information.
ow. This is possible through such tactics as conguring the
aspects of the PFD and MFD screens according to personal Other ways to maintain situational awareness include:
preferences. For example, most systems offer map orientation Perform verication check of all programming. Before
options that include north up, track up, DTK (desired departure, check all information programmed while
track up), and heading up. Another tactic is to decide, when on the ground.
possible, how much (or how little) information to display.
Pilots can also tailor the information displayed to suit the Check the ight routing. Before departure, ensure all
needs of a specic ight. routing matches the planned ight route. Enter the
planned route and legs, to include headings and leg
Information flow can also be managed for a specific length, on a paper log. Use this log to evaluate what
operation. The pilot has the ability to prioritize information has been programmed. If the two do not match, do not
for a timely display of exactly the information needed for any assume the computer data is correct, double check the
given ight operation. Examples of managing information computer entry.
display for a specic operation include: Verify waypoints.
Program map scale settings for en route versus Make use of all onboard navigation equipment. For
terminal area operation. example, use VOR to back up GPS and vice versa.
Utilize the terrain awareness page on the MFD for a Match the use of the automated system with pilot
night or IMC ight in or near the mountains. prociency. Stay within personal limitations.
Use the nearest airports inset on the PFD at night or Plan a realistic ight route to maintain situational
over inhospitable terrain. awareness. For example, although the onboard
Program the weather datalink set to show echoes and equipment allows a direct flight from Denver,
METAR status ags. Colorado, to Destin, Florida, the likelihood of
rerouting around Eglin Air Force Bases airspace is
Enhanced Situational Awareness high.
An advanced avionics aircraft offers increased safety with Be ready to verify computer data entries. For example,
enhanced situational awareness. Although aircraft ight incorrect keystrokes could lead to loss of situational
manuals (AFM) explicitly prohibit using the moving map, awareness because the pilot may not recognize errors
topography, terrain awareness, trafc, and weather datalink made during a high workload period.
displays as the primary data source, these tools nonetheless
give the pilot unprecedented information for enhanced Automation Management
situational awareness. Without a well-planned information Advanced avionics offer multiple levels of automation, from
management strategy, these tools also make it easy for an strictly manual ight to highly automated ight. No one level
unwary pilot to slide into the complacent role of passenger of automation is appropriate for all ight situations, but in
in command. order to avoid potentially dangerous distractions when ying
with advanced avionics, the pilot must know how to manage
Consider the pilot whose navigational information the course deviation indicator (CDI), the navigation source,
management strategy consists solely of following the and the autopilot. It is important for a pilot to know the
magenta line on the moving map. He or she can easily y peculiarities of the particular automated system being used.
into geographic or regulatory disaster, if the straight-line GPS This ensures the pilot knows what to expect, how to monitor
course goes through high terrain or prohibited airspace, or if for proper operation, and promptly take appropriate action if
the moving map display fails. the system does not perform as expected.
A good strategy for maintaining situational awareness For example, at the most basic level, managing the autopilot
information management should include practices that help means knowing at all times which modes are engaged
ensure that awareness is enhanced by the use of automation, and which modes are armed to engage. The pilot needs to
not diminished. Two basic procedures are to always double- verify that armed functions (e.g., navigation tracking or
check the system and verbal callouts. At a minimum, ensure altitude capture) engage at the appropriate time. Automation
the presentation makes sense. Was the correct destination fed management is another good place to practice the callout
17-31
technique, especially after arming the system to make a In Colombia, a multi-engine aircraft crewed with two pilots
change in course or altitude. struck the face of the Andes Mountains. Examination of
their FMS revealed they entered a waypoint into the FMS
In advanced avionics aircraft, proper automation management incorrectly by one degree resulting in a ightpath taking
also requires a thorough understanding of how the autopilot them to a point 60 NM off their intended course. The pilots
interacts with the other systems. For example, with some were equipped with the proper charts, their route was posted
autopilots, changing the navigation source on the e-HSI from on the charts, and they had a paper navigation log indicating
GPS to LOC or VOR while the autopilot is engaged in NAV the direction of each leg. They had all the tools to manage
(course tracking mode) will cause the autopilots NAV mode and monitor their ight, but instead allowed the automation
to disengage. The autopilots lateral control will default to to y and manage itself. The system did exactly what it was
ROL (wing level) until the pilot takes action to reengage the programmed to do; it ew on a programmed course into a
NAV mode to track the desired navigation source. mountain resulting in multiple deaths. The pilots simply failed
to manage the system and inherently created their own hazard.
Risk Management Although this hazard was self-induced, what is notable is
Risk management is the last of the three ight management the risk the pilots created through their own inattention.
skills needed for mastery of the glass ight deck aircraft. The By failing to evaluate each turn made at the direction of
enhanced situational awareness and automation capabilities automation, the pilots maximized risk instead of minimizing
offered by a glass ight deck airplane vastly expand its safety it. In this case, a totally avoidable accident become a tragedy
and utility, especially for personal transportation use. At the through simple pilot error and complacency.
same time, there is some risk that lighter workloads could
lead to complacency. For the GA pilot transitioning to automated systems, it is
helpful to note that all human activity involving technical
Humans are characteristically poor monitors of automated devices entails some element of risk. Knowledge, experience,
systems. When asked to passively monitor an automated and mission requirements tilt the odds in favor of safe and
system for faults, abnormalities, or other infrequent events, successful ights. The advanced avionics aircraft offers
humans perform poorly. The more reliable the system, the many new capabilities and simplies the basic ying tasks,
poorer the human performance. For example, the pilot only but only if the pilot is properly trained and all the equipment
monitors a backup alert system, rather than the situation is working as advertised.
that the alert system is designed to safeguard. It is a paradox
of automation that technically advanced avionics can both Chapter Summary
increase and decrease pilot awareness. This chapter focused on helping the pilot improve his or
her ADM skills with the goal of mitigating the risk factors
It is important to remember that electronic ight displays do associated with ight in both classic and automated aircraft.
not replace basic ight knowledge and skills. They are a tool In the end, the discussion is not so much about aircraft, but
for improving ight safety. Risk increases when the pilot about the people who y them.
believes the gadgets will compensate for lack of skill and
knowledge. It is especially important to recognize there are
limits to what the electronic systems in any light GA aircraft
can do. Being PIC requires sound ADM which sometimes
means saying no to a ight.
17-32