Aeronautical Decision Making
Written for the Notre Dame Pilot Initiative
By the Pilots of the University of Notre Dame
“Teaching the Science, Inspiring the Art, Producing Aviation Candidates!”
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
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aeronautical decision making
risk management
task management
automation management
controlled flight into terrain awareness
situational awareness
How to apply?
SRM
 5P’s
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-Command—general health, physical/mental/emotional state:
proficiency, currency.
Aircraft—airworthiness, equipment, performance capability.
enVironment—weather hazards, terrain, airports/runways to be
used, conditions.
External pressures—meetings, 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 aircraft—the status of aircraft systems, pilot, and
passengers.
 Outside the aircraft—awareness 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.
 Don’t 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)
3P’s
DECIDE
Another model (from the Air Force)
OODA
Decision Making
3P’s
 Perceives—the given set of circumstances for a
flight; identify hazards in each risk category.
 Processes—by evaluating the impact of those
circumstances on flight safety; what can hurt you.
 Performs—by implementing the best course of
action; change the situation in your favor.
Decision Making
DECIDE
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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
person’s 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 procedure—slip or
kick straight method?
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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 set—DG & 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