Situational awareness (SA) requires the accurate gathering of data (despite physical and mental obstacles) then filtering and making sense of this buzzing cacophony and finally projecting this all forward in time toward an intended outcome. In the context of a busy and distracting aviation environment, this is a complex undertaking. Understanding and mastering this critical … Continue reading “Situational Awareness: 3 Keys to Safety!”
This week’s blog is by Hobie Tomlinson (see bio below). With 40K hours and 9 type ratings, Hobie developed much of what we now call CRM when he was a 747 captain at TWA. Here is an excerpt from our SAFE resource library (free to members )…enjoy! Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Single-Pilot Resource Management … Continue reading “Safer Flying; Single-pilot Resource Management!”
Controller Robert Morgan, pictured above, was the calm voice that guided a non-pilot, Darren Harrison, from over the ocean to a safe landing recently in Florida. Fortunately, Robert is a CFI – and was available to help [MORE] Congratulations on another “first solo” Robert – you made every CFI proud! This success also clearly highlights … Continue reading “ATC Assist in Florida Landing!”
“What were they thinking?” (In most senses of the word, they weren’t!) If you read accident reports, you have often encountered seemingly smart pilots facing an obvious threat they “never saw.” How does this happen? There is a simple explanation and it is a process common to all of us – and totally “natural” (beware)! … Continue reading “Risk Hides in the “Familiar!””
Colonel “Jeff” Cooper, developed the “Color Code of Awareness” for the military to inspire self-assessment and vigilance. Warfighters know that situational awareness is just as important for success as physical skill or conditioning. A tuned-up awareness is critical for pilot safety too. “Fat, dumb and happy” is no way to fly safely. Unfortunately, we *do* … Continue reading “Building Awareness With the “Cooper Code””
Successfully meeting the challenge of flying safely in the clouds requires all kinds of technical knowledge, skills, and proficiency. But what often gets lost in this forest of details are the overriding principles that ultimately keep us safe. Missing these larger “big picture rules” leads to failures on flight tests, or worse, accidents. And IFR … Continue reading “Essential Rules for IFR Safety!”
It may be politically incorrect to state this so publically, but we all know that in our daily aviation world there are some people that endanger all of our lives with their unwise actions. Sometimes “stupid” is a one-off move (guilty as charged) that can be fixed. In other cases, “stupid” seems to be an … Continue reading “Ideas to “Cure Stupid!?””
One of the major causes of cockpit chaos, and ultimately accidents, is simply a failure of time and task management. We often create our own problems as pilots by attempting too much – pushing to the point of system failure. The essence of “pilot-in-command“ success is continuously defining and accomplishing only the most important tasks … Continue reading “Managing Your Mental Resources: Focus on “Important” (Filter out “Urgent!”)”
We all like to imagine that we run our lives as bold free agents, consciously determining every action and impulse. But if we are aware and honest, we realize that our daily activities are largely run instead by habits and powerful non-conscious influences – and I know this can be a bit depressing for a … Continue reading ““Habit Stacking” For Aviation Efficiency and Safety”
The current commercial pilot test standard, as administered, is often a joke. Jumping into a C-152 or DA-20 and doing the same private pilot maneuvers to the same PPL tolerances does not really “test” anything. There is no added challenge or demonstration of superior skill required at the “commercial pilot level” unless CFIs and DPEs … Continue reading “What The FAA Commercial Test Needs.”
