Aviation Safety and Decision Making

Accidents and Pilots

• Pilots with a history of accidents often exhibit a lack of discipline and a tendency towards impulsivity in decision-making.

Flight Safety Hazards

• Fatigue is a significant flight safety hazard as it can impair performance without noticeable symptoms, leading to errors.
• Hazardous attitudes, such as impulsivity, invulnerability, and anti-authority, are common in pilots and can negatively influence decision-making.

Physiological Effects

• Hyperventilation, with insufficient CO2 in the body, can lead to dizziness, tingling sensations, and lightheadedness.
• Spatial disorientation can occur in low visibility conditions and is best managed by relying on instrument indications.

Oxygen and Altitude

• Supplemental oxygen is recommended for night flights above 12,500 feet.

Pilot Fatigue

• Pilot fatigue is a significant hazard as it impairs judgment and decision-making.

Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)

• Recognizing hazardous thoughts is the first step in neutralizing hazardous attitudes in ADM.
• Alcohol can be detected in the body for at least three hours after consumption.

Ear Blockage

• Ear blockage is most likely to occur during descent, and can be exacerbated by respiratory infections.

Experience and Judgment

• While experience plays a role, structured training is essential for developing good judgment.

Hangover and Impairment

• A pilot experiencing a hangover will exhibit impaired motor and mental functions, despite not being under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

• Susceptibility to carbon monoxide poisoning increases at higher altitudes.

ADM Process

• The first step in ADM involves understanding personal limitations, recognizing hazardous attitudes, and assessing environmental factors.

Spatial Disorientation and Prevention

• Shifting the eyes quickly between the visual field and instruments can reduce the risks of spatial disorientation in poor visibility conditions.

Dangerous Pilot Tendencies

• Common tendencies include performance deficiencies due to stress, peer pressure, loss of situational awareness, and inadequate fuel reserves.

Stress and Decision Making

• Environmental, physiological, and psychological stressors can all negatively impact decision-making abilities.

Hyperventilation and Treatment

• Slowing the breathing rate helps overcome hyperventilation symptoms by increasing CO2 levels.

Decide Model

• The final step in the Decide Model for risk management is "Evaluate."

Decide Model Steps

• The 6-step model includes: Determine, Evaluate, Choose, Identify, Do, and Eliminate.

Spatial Disorientation

• Relying on aircraft instrument indications is the most effective way to counter spatial disorientation.

Pilot Error

• Human error is the most common factor in preventable accidents.

Pilot Fatigue

• Pilot fatigue negatively impacts performance and can lead to errors and neglecting important tasks.

Impulsivity and Antidote

• "Not so fast, think first" is an antidote to the hazardous attitude of impulsivity.

MACHO Attitude

• The antidote to the "macho" attitude is "Follow the rules. They are usually right."

Hypoxia Symptoms

• Tunnel vision and cyanosis can be symptoms of hypoxia.

Stress and Decision Making

• Lack of sleep and heavy workload can lead to poor decision-making.

Alcohol and the Body

• The body requires approximately 4 hours to eliminate the alcohol content of one beer.

CARE Checklist

• The CARE checklist can be used both before and during operations to assess risk and maintain situational awareness.

Hyperventilation and Symptoms

• Hyperventilation causes increased breathing rate and depth leading to symptoms such as dizziness, tingling sensations, lightheadedness, and feeling overwhelmed.

Visual Scanning

• Eye movements for daytime collision avoidance scanning should be 30 degrees in each sector and held for at least 3 seconds.

Alcohol and Flight

• Even small amounts of alcohol can negatively affect judgment and decision-making.

Medications and Flight

• Prescription and over-the-counter medications can impair pilot abilities.

Illness and Flight

• Consult an Aviation Medical Examiner if experiencing an illness that may affect flight capabilities.

Decide Model

• "Detect" is the first step in the Decide Model for effective risk management.

Spatial Disorientation and Instrument Flight

• Spatial disorientation sensations are most likely to occur during the transition from visual to instrument flight.

Night Flight Lighting

• Reducing interior lighting intensity to a minimum level is essential for night flight to maintain night vision.

Centrifugal Force and Disorientation

• Centrifugal force can be misinterpreted as a sensation of turning or rising/falling.

Risk Management

• Risk management relies on situational awareness, problem recognition, good judgment, and stress management.

Hypoxia and Single-Pilot Operations

• Hypoxia is especially dangerous for single-pilot operations as it can lead to impaired judgment without clear early symptoms, making it hard for the pilot to recognize the issue before it affects their abilities.

Judgment and Training

• Structured training is a crucial part of developing good judgment, along with experience.

Spatial Disorientation

• Spatial disorientation is a lack of awareness regarding the aircraft's position, attitude, and movement, making it hard for the pilot to properly understand and respond to the situation.

This quiz explores various factors impacting pilots' decision-making, including accidents, flight safety hazards, and the physiological effects of altitude and fatigue. Understand how these elements contribute to aeronautical decision-making (ADM) and improve flight safety protocols.