Aeronautical Decision-Making

The following are two simple rules for use of an EFD: • Be able to fly the aircraft to the standards in the PTS. Although this may seem insignificant, knowing how to fly the aircraft to a standard makes a pilot’s airmanship smoother and allows him or her more time to attend to the system instead of managing multiple tasks. • Read and understand the installed electronic flight systems manuals to include the use of the autopilot and the other onboard electronic management tools. Managing Aircraft Automation Figure 2-23. An example of an autopilot system. Before any pilot can master aircraft automation, he or she must first know how to fly the aircraft. Maneuvers training Respect for Onboard Systems remains an important component of flight training because almost 40 percent of all GA accidents take place in the Automation can assist the pilot in many ways, but a thorough understanding of the system(s) in use is essential to gaining the benefits it can offer. Understanding leads to respect, which is achieved through discipline and the mastery of the onboard systems. It is important to fly the aircraft using minimal information from the primary flight display (PFD). This includes turns, climbs, descents, and being able to fly approaches. Reinforcement of Onboard Suites The use of an EFD may not seem intuitive, but competency becomes better with understanding and practice. Computer- based software and incremental training help the pilot become comfortable with the onboard suites. Then the pilot needs to practice what was learned in order to gain experience. Reinforcement not only yields dividends in the use of automation, it also reduces workload significantly. Getting Beyond Rote Workmanship The key to working effectively with automation is getting beyond the sequential process of executing an action. If a pilot has to analyze what key to push next, or always uses the same sequence of keystrokes when others are available, he or she may be trapped in a rote process. This mechanical process indicates a shallow understanding of the system. Again, the desire is to become competent and know what to do without having to think about, “what keystroke is next.” Operating the system with competency and comprehension benefits a pilot when situations become more diverse and tasks increase. Understand the Platform Contrary to popular belief, flight in aircraft equipped with different electronic management suites requires the same attention as aircraft equipped with analog instrumentation and a conventional suite of avionics. The pilot should review Figure 2-24. Examples of different platforms. Top to bottom are the and understand the different ways in which EFD are used in Beechcraft Baron G58, Cirrus SR22, and Cirrus Entega. a particular aircraft. [Figure 2-24] 2-29