Aeronautical Decision-Making

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 flight safety, one factor remains the reduce accidents caused by human factors, developed the first 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 flight 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 2-1] cooperation and improve decision-making. The goal of all flight 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 influence decision-making and Research in this area prompted the Federal Aviation how those attitudes can be modified to enhance safety in the Administration (FAA) to produce training directed at flight 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, definitions, 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 2-2] flying curriculum. When tested, the pilots who had received ADM-training made fewer in-flight errors than those who had Percentage of General Aviation Accidents Flight Time Flight Time Flight Time 2% 83% 15% 24.1% 23.4% 15.7% 13% 9.7% 4.7% 3.5% 3.3% 2.6% Preflights/ Takeoff/ Climb Cruise Descent Maneuvering Approach Landing Other Taxi Initial Climb Figure 2-1. The percentage of aviation accidents as they relate to the different phases of flight. Note that the greatest percentage of accidents take place during a minor percentage of the total flight. 2-2