Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)

Overview

• ADM stands for Aeronautical Decision Making
• Essential process in aviation for enhancing safety by reducing human error in the cockpit
• Involves risk management and managing hazards

Risk Management

• Hazard: Real or perceived condition that could lead to a problem (e.g., thunderstorm cloud, wrong fuel)
• Risk Management: Mitigating, eliminating, or managing hazards to ensure safety
  • Example: Not flying with a thunderstorm cloud present
  • Example: Correcting wrong fuel by defueling the aircraft

Hazardous Attitudes

Identified five specific hazardous attitudes in aviation:

1. Anti-Authority
   • Attitude: "Don’t tell me what to do"
   • Anecdote: Follow the rules
2. Impulsivity
   • Attitude: "Do it quickly"
   • Anecdote: Slow down
3. Invulnerability
   • Attitude: "It couldn't happen to me"
   • Anecdote: It could happen to me
4. Macho
   • Attitude: "I can do it"
   • Anecdote: It could happen to me
5. Resignation
   • Attitude: "What’s the use?"
   • Anecdote: I am not helpless; there are alternatives

Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM)

• SRM: Art and science of managing all available resources while flying solo

Pre-Flight Checklists

1. I'M SAFE Checklist
   • I: Illness
   • M: Medication
   • S: Stress
   • A: Alcohol
   • F: Fatigue
   • E: Emotion and Eating
2. PAVE Checklist
   • P: Pilot (use I'M SAFE checklist)
   • A: Aircraft (safety, paperwork, pre-flight checks)
   • V: Environment (weather, terrain, airspace)
   • E: External Pressures (e.g., get-there-itis)
3. CARE Checklist
   • C: Consequences
   • A: Alternatives
   • R: Reality
   • E: External Factors

During Flight Checklists

1. 5 Ps Checklist
   • Plan: Flight plan
   • Plane: Aircraft condition
   • Pilot: Personal condition (use I'M SAFE checklist)
   • Passengers: Comfort and safety
   • Program: Familiarity with equipment
2. 3 Ps Checklist
   • Perceive: Situational awareness
   • Process: Processing perceived information accurately
   • Perform: Taking appropriate action based on processed information
3. TEAM Checklist
   • Transfer: Transfer risk
   • Eliminate: Eliminate risk
   • Accept: Accept managed risk
   • Mitigate: Reduce risk
4. DECIDE Model
   • D: Detect a problem (e.g., high oil temperature)
   • E: Estimate criticality of the problem
   • C: Choose potential courses of action
   • I: Identify the best action
   • D: Do the action
   • E: Evaluate the effectiveness of the action

Summary

• ADM and SRM are critical for safe flight operations
• Use various checklists to ensure thorough checking and decision making
• Awareness of hazardous attitudes and appropriate responses help in maintaining safety