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Aeronautical Decision Making

Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative
By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame
Quote
Any pilot who does not privately consider
himself the best in the game is in the
wrong game.
Flying Magazine
Roadmap
Hazardous Attitudes
Critical Flight Phases
GA Accident Profiles
Personal Testimony
Lesson Plan
Will learn the hazardous attitudes
and their antidotes
Will be able to interpret hazardous
situations, develop mitigating
actions, and implement ORM into the
decision making process
Will know the most critical phases of
flight
Definitions
ADM 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.
Attitude is a personal motivational
predisposition to respond to persons,
situations, or events in a given manner
It can be modified through training.
Hazardous Attitudes
Critical Phases
Percentage of General Aviation
Accidents
Takeoff and Landing comprise 50% of accidents in only 3% of the time
How Does It Happen?
Taxiing into buildings, a/c, & fuel trucks
Taking Off Over Gross Weight
Clipping Trees / Power Lines on Takeoff
Engine Failure on T/O
Fuel Starvation
Midair Collision
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT)
Stall / Spin on Base to Final Turn
Loss of Control in Crosswind Landing
Dropping it in From 20 feet
Single Pilot Resource
Management
SRM
the art and science of managing all the resources (both
onboard the aircraft and from outside sources) available to a
single pilot (prior to and during flight) to ensure that the
successful outcome of the flight is never in doubt.
SRM includes the concepts of
aeronautical decision making
risk management
task management
automation management
controlled flight into terrain awareness
situational awareness
SRM
How to apply?
5Ps
The plan
planning, weather, route, fuel, publications, ATC reroutes/delays.
The plane
mechanical status, database currency, automation status, backup
systems.
The pilot
illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, eating (IMSAFE).
The passengers
pilot or non-pilot, experienced or inexperienced, nervous or calm,
etc.
The programming
GPS, autopilot, PFD/MFD, possible reroutes requiring
reprogramming.
Risk Management
Definition:
Risk management is a decision making process
designed to identify hazards systematically,
assess the degree of risk, and determine the best
course of action.
How to assess?
Risk Management
How to assess?
PAVE
Pilot-In-Commandgeneral health, physical/mental/emotional state:
proficiency, currency.
Aircraftairworthiness, equipment, performance capability.
enVironmentweather hazards, terrain, airports/runways to be
used, conditions.
External pressuresmeetings, people waiting at destination, etc.
Personal Minimums
IMSAFE
Situational Awareness
SA:
The accurate perception and understanding of all the factors
and conditions within the four fundamental risk elements
(pilot, aircraft, environment, external pressures) that affect
safety before, during, and after the flight.
Some elements of SA
Inside the aircraftthe status of aircraft systems, pilot, and
passengers.
Outside the aircraftawareness of the environmental
conditions of the flight, such as spatial orientation of the
aircraft and its relationship to terrain, traffic, weather, and
airspace.
CFIT Awareness
What is CFIT?
A situation in which an airworthy aircraft is flown,
under the control of a qualified pilot, into terrain
with inadequate awareness on the part of the pilot
of the impending collision.
CFIT Awareness
What are some causes of CFIT?
Lack of pilot currency.
Loss of situational awareness.
Pilot distractions and breakdown of SRM.
Failure to comply with minimum safe altitudes.
Breakdown in effective aeronautical decision
making.
Insufficient planning especially for the descent and
arrival segments.
CFIT Awareness
How can one avoid CFIT?
Maintain situational awareness at all times.
Adhere to safe takeoff and departure procedures.
Familiarize yourself with surrounding terrain
features and obstacles.
Adhere to published routes and minimum
altitudes.
Fly a stabilized approach.
Understand ATC clearances and instructions.
Dont become complacent.
ADM
What makes up ADM?
Risk management
situational awareness
single-pilot resource management.
What is the decision making process?
Decision Making
Two models (from the FAA)
3Ps
DECIDE

Another model (from the Air Force)
OODA
Decision Making
3Ps
Perceivesthe given set of circumstances for a
flight; identify hazards in each risk category.
Processesby evaluating the impact of those
circumstances on flight safety; what can hurt you.
Performsby implementing the best course of
action; change the situation in your favor.
Decision Making
DECIDE
Detect a change needing attention.
Estimate the need to counter or react to a change.
Choose the most desirable outcome for the flight.
Identify actions to successfully control the change.
Do something to adapt to the change.
Evaluate the effect of the action countering the change.
OODA
Observe
Orient
Decide
Act
Task Management
Definition:
Task management is the process by which pilots manage
the many concurrent tasks that must be performed to safely
and efficiently fly a modern aircraft.
What happens when information flow exceeds a
persons ability to mentally process and act on
information?
When a pilot becomes task-saturated, there is no
awareness of input from various sources, so
decisions might be made with incomplete
information and the possibility of error increases.
Task Management
What are several options that a pilot
can employ to decrease workload
and avoid becoming overloaded?
Stop, think, slow down, and prioritize.
Tasks such as locating an item on a chart
or setting a radio frequency may be
delegated to another pilot or passenger. An
autopilot, if available, may be used. ATC
may be enlisted to provide assistance.
Common Mistakes of Private Pilots
Unfamiliarity with POH & installed equipment
Especially Audio Panel & GPS
Airplane out of trim
Poor airspeed control / No target airspeeds
Jockeying power esp. w/ a constant speed prop
Lack of a defined crosswind procedureslip or
kick straight method?
Inability to execute either procedure
Fixation with radio calls in the traffic pattern
Setting the horizon bar on the attitude gyro on the
ground
The takeoff checklist says flight instruments-check
There are only 2 of them to setDG & altimeter
VFR goal: Be able to fly the aircraft hands-off
during most flight regimes
Sources
Advisory Circular 60-22,
Aeronautical Decision Making, FAA
Private Pilot Manual, Jeppesen
Weather Flying, Robert Buck
Common Mistakes, John Friel