Successful Decision Making

Capt. Dimitrios Sipsas as an EASA Examiner (T.R.E) on February 2017, wrote an article on “CAT Magazine”, The Journal For Civil Aviation Training

The development of good decision making skills is far more difficult than developing good flying skills, but it can be done. Good judgment may mean not flying while under the influence of any medication, when it is too windy, or refusing a revenue flight when it would require flying in marginal weather.

Many pilots fail to make proper decisions; sometimes due to a lack of knowledge, but too often the result of a human tendency to rationalize a situation until it appears justifiable. When a pilot really wants to do something (such as loading that one last passenger when close to maximum gross weight, or performing a high speed, low altitude pass), the pilot can generally make himself / herself believe that it was all right to do it. A pilot can be his/her own worst enemy.

In addition to the Civil Aviation Regulations, articles in magazines, books written by expert pilots and instructors, Pilot Proficiency programs, there are some do’s and do not’s that can ensure the prevention of most accidents. All of this information is safety oriented. Not following this safety oriented information is similar to not following the advice of a Doctor or Lawyer.

The most important decision a pilot will make is to learn and adhere to published rules, procedures, and recommendations. Pilots, by learning and adhering to these published rules and procedures, can take most hazards out of flying. When a pilot operates an aircraft, human lives are held in the balance. Therefore, a pilot has a moral responsibility to operate in the safest possible manner.

Aviation has reached a new plateau. Acquiring aeronautical knowledge, airmanship skills, and proficiency are relatively easy. Navigation has been reduced to calculator simplicity. Modern autopilots and electronic displays have significantly reduced a pilot’s workload. Today’s technology requires administrative management and aeronautical decision making skills as prerequisites for Safety and Efficiency.

Aviation instructors should be deeply involved with accident prevention and judgment training. Experience has shown that most accidents are the result of a chain of events. These events can be a mistake, but can also be a simple oversight, lack of awareness, or lack of a sense of urgency. The study of human factors in accidents is being taught throughout the aviation industry in an effort to understand why accidents occur and how training can prevent them. Human factors training also addresses the development of good judgment through the study of how and why people react to internal and external influences.

Flight instructors must incorporate aeronautical decision making (ADM) and judgment training into their instruction. This is a systematic approach to risk assessment and stress management in aviation. It shows how personal attitudes can influence decision making and how those attitudes can be modified to enhance safety in the cockpit.

So, Lets remember that : “Successful Decision Making is measured by a pilot’s consistent ability to keep himself/herself, any passengers, and the aircraft in good condition regardless of the conditions of any given flight”.