Flight Training - July 2019 - 50

ADVANCED PILOT CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

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There is no sure way to develop situational awareness other than practicing it.
Pilots can ask themselves questions such
as do I know what aircraft are in the pattern
from listening to the airport common
traffic advisory frequency (CTAF)? Is the
aircraft operating within limits? Do I know
where I am along my route of flight? Other
questions that can be answered include,
Do selected checkpoints on the navigational
charts match what I am seeing? Match the
selected checkpoint on the chart to locate
and confirm the feature on the ground.
This can further be confirmed with the
use of VOR radials from nearby navigational aids. Situational awareness improves

such as air traffic control, weather, terrain,
and degraded aircraft systems can add
difficulty to flights. Pilots must be able to
alter a previously made decision as new
information and influences are presented.
At one point or another in pilots' flying
careers, they experience get-there-itis.
They have been flying for longer than
expected or have some perceived stressor
at the destination, such as work the next
day or a business meeting, and they keep
pressing on toward home. Their focus is so
intense that small indicators of a developing problem are missed or dismissed. In
fact, these signals are really holes in the
proverbial Swiss cheese model aligning

FOLLOWING THE FLIGHT, A QUICK DEBRIEF SHOULD
ADDRESS ANY SAFETY-OF-FLIGHT CONCERNS. DID
THE PLANNING ADDRESS THE GOALS OF THE FLIGHT?
WHAT HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY?
with experience and becomes easier to
maintain. This is the single most important
factor to flying safety.
Communication. Communication has
three parts: The sender sends a message to
a receiver; the receiver receives the information and processes it; and the receiver
provides feedback to the original sender.
Some tips to improve communication skills
are utilization of active listening, requiring
feedback, and confirming understanding.
Adaptability/flexibility. Flights rarely
go according to plan. External influences

JARGON
Situational
awareness

50 FLIGHT TRAINING JULY 2019

for a possible incident. A good example for
this type of situation is not planning for an
alternate airport, regardless of whether
you are flying VFR or IFR.
Establishing decision points based on
weather or minimum acceptable requirements such as arrival times provides a
line in the sand that simplifies a determination to shift plans. For instance, while
en route to a destination, the airport
reports deteriorating weather below VFR
weather minimums. Depending on the
pilot's experience, he or she could request

When it comes to the risks affecting flight
safety, does your perception match reality?
Situational awareness is your big-picture
understanding of what's going on around
you, including factors related to you, the
aircraft, your environment, and external
pressure. Situational awareness grows with
experience, but factors such as fatigue, complacency, or transitioning to a new aircraft
can affect your ability to take it all in.

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Flight Training - July 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Flight Training - July 2019