Aeronautical Decision-Making

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, not diminished, by the use and which modes are armed to engage. The pilot needs to of automation. 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 into the navigation system? Callouts—even for single-pilot technique, especially after arming the system to make a operations—are an excellent way to maintain situational change in course or altitude. awareness, as well as manage information. In advanced avionics aircraft, proper automation management Other ways to maintain situational awareness include: also requires a thorough understanding of how the autopilot interacts with the other systems. For example, with some • Perform verification check of all programming. Before autopilots, changing the navigation source on the e-HSI from departure, check all information programmed while GPS to LOC or VOR while the autopilot is engaged in NAV on the ground. (course tracking mode) causes the autopilot’s NAV mode to • Check the flight routing. Before departure, ensure all disengage. The autopilot’s lateral control will default to ROL routing matches the planned flight route. Enter the (wing level) until the pilot takes action to reengage the NAV planned route and legs, to include headings and leg mode to track the desired navigation source. length, on a paper log. Use this log to evaluate what has been programmed. If the two do not match, do not Risk Management assume the computer data is correct, double check the Risk management is the last of the three flight management computer entry. skills needed for mastery of the glass flight deck aircraft. The • Verify waypoints. enhanced situational awareness and automation capabilities offered by a glass flight deck airplane vastly expand its safety • Make use of all onboard navigation equipment. For and utility, especially for personal transportation use. At the example, use VOR to back up GPS and vice versa. same time, there is some risk that lighter workloads could • Match the use of the automated system with pilot lead to complacency. proficiency. Stay within personal limitations. • Plan a realistic flight route to maintain situational Humans are characteristically poor monitors of automated awareness. For example, although the onboard systems. When asked to passively monitor an automated equipment allows a direct flight from Denver, system for faults, abnormalities, or other infrequent events, Colorado, to Destin, Florida, the likelihood of humans perform poorly. The more reliable the system, the rerouting around Eglin Air Force Base’s airspace is poorer the human performance. For example, the pilot only high. monitors a backup alert system, rather than the situation that the alert system is designed to safeguard. It is a paradox • Be ready to verify computer data entries. For example, of automation that technically advanced avionics can both incorrect keystrokes could lead to loss of situational increase and decrease pilot awareness. awareness because the pilot may not recognize errors made during a high workload period. It is important to remember that EFDs do not replace basic flight knowledge and skills. They are a tool for improving Automation Management flight safety. Risk increases when the pilot believes the gadgets Advanced avionics offer multiple levels of automation, from compensate for lack of skill and knowledge. It is especially strictly manual flight to highly automated flight. No one level important to recognize there are limits to what the electronic of automation is appropriate for all flight situations, but in systems in any light GA aircraft can do. Being PIC requires order to avoid potentially dangerous distractions when flying sound ADM, which sometimes means saying “no” to a flight. with advanced avionics, the pilot must know how to manage the course deviation indicator (CDI), the navigation source, Risk is also increased when the pilot fails to monitor the and the autopilot. It is important for a pilot to know the systems. By failing to monitor the systems and failing to peculiarities of the particular automated system being used. check the results of the processes, the pilot becomes detached This ensures the pilot knows what to expect, how to monitor 2-31