Aeronautical Decision-Making

time to use a particular resource and the impact its use will have upon the safety of flight. For example, the assistance of ATC may be very useful if a pilot becomes lost, but in an emergency situation, there may be no time available to contact ATC. Internal Resources One of the most underutilized resources may be the person in the right seat, even if the passenger has no flying experience. When appropriate, the PIC can ask passengers to assist with certain tasks, such as watching for traffic or reading checklist items. The following are some other ways a passenger can assist: Figure 2-17. When possible, have a passenger reconfirm that critical tasks are completed. • Provide information in an irregular situation, especially if familiar with flying. A strange smell or Checklists are essential flight deck internal resources. They sound may alert a passenger to a potential problem. are used to verify the aircraft instruments and systems are • Confirm after the pilot that the landing gear is down. checked, set, and operating properly, as well as ensuring the proper procedures are performed if there is a system • Learn to look at the altimeter for a given altitude in a malfunction or in-flight emergency. Students reluctant to descent. use checklists can be reminded that pilots at all levels of • Listen to logic or lack of logic. experience refer to checklists, and that the more advanced the aircraft is, the more crucial checklists become. In addition, the Also, the process of a verbal briefing (which can happen pilot’s operating handbook (POH) is required to be carried on whether or not passengers are aboard) can help the PIC in board the aircraft and is essential for accurate flight planning the decision-making process. For example, assume a pilot and resolving in-flight equipment malfunctions. However, provides a lone passenger a briefing of the forecast landing the most valuable resource a pilot has is the ability to manage weather before departure. When the Automatic Terminal workload whether alone or with others. Information Service (ATIS) is picked up, the weather has significantly changed. The discussion of this forecast External Resources change can lead the pilot to reexamine his or her activities ATC and flight service specialists are the best external and decision-making. [Figure 2-17] Other valuable internal resources during flight. In order to promote the safe, orderly resources include ingenuity, aviation knowledge, and flying flow of air traffic around airports and, along flight routes, the skill. Pilots can increase flight deck resources by improving ATC provides pilots with traffic advisories, radar vectors, these characteristics. and assistance in emergency situations. Although it is the PIC’s responsibility to make the flight as safe as possible, When flying alone, another internal resource is verbal a pilot with a problem can request assistance from ATC. communication. It has been established that verbal [Figure 2-18] For example, if a pilot needs to level off, be communication reinforces an activity; touching an object while communicating further enhances the probability an activity has been accomplished. For this reason, many solo pilots read the checklist out loud; when they reach critical items, they touch the switch or control. For example, to ascertain the landing gear is down, the pilot can read the checklist. But, if he or she touches the gear handle during the process, a safe extension of the landing gear is confirmed. It is necessary for a pilot to have a thorough understanding of all the equipment and systems in the aircraft being flown. Lack of knowledge, such as knowing if the oil pressure gauge is direct reading or uses a sensor, is the difference between making a wise decision or poor one that leads to a tragic error. Figure 2-18. Controllers work to make flights as safe as possible. 2-23