Aeronautical Decision-Making

Figure 2-2. Advisory Circular (AC) 60-22, “Aeronautical Decision Making,” carries a wealth of information for the pilot to learn. not received ADM training. The differences were statistically 5. Using all resources significant and ranged from about 10 to 50 percent fewer 6. Evaluating the effectiveness of one’s ADM skills judgment errors. In the operational environment, an operator flying about 400,000 hours annually demonstrated a 54 Risk Management percent reduction in accident rate after using these materials The goal of risk management is to proactively identify for recurrency training. safety-related hazards and mitigate the associated risks. Risk management is an important component of ADM. When a Contrary to popular opinion, good judgment can be taught. pilot follows good decision-making practices, the inherent risk Tradition held that good judgment was a natural by-product in a flight is reduced or even eliminated. The ability to make of experience, but as pilots continued to log accident-free good decisions is based upon direct or indirect experience flight hours, a corresponding increase of good judgment and education. The formal risk management decision-making was assumed. Building upon the foundation of conventional process involves six steps as shown in Figure 2-3. decision-making, ADM enhances the process to decrease the probability of human error and increase the probability of a Consider automotive seat belt use. In just two decades, seat safe flight. ADM provides a structured, systematic approach belt use has become the norm, placing those who do not to analyzing changes that occur during a flight and how these wear seat belts outside the norm, but this group may learn to changes might affect the safe outcome of a flight. The ADM wear a seat belt by either direct or indirect experience. For process addresses all aspects of decision-making in the flight example, a driver learns through direct experience about the deck and identifies the steps involved in good decision-making. value of wearing a seat belt when he or she is involved in a car accident that leads to a personal injury. An indirect learning Steps for good decision-making are: experience occurs when a loved one is injured during a car 1. Identifying personal attitudes hazardous to safe flight accident because he or she failed to wear a seat belt. 2. Learning behavior modification techniques As you work through the ADM cycle, it is important to 3. Learning how to recognize and cope with stress remember the four fundamental principles of risk management. 4. Developing risk assessment skills 2-3