55 Steps

Steps to
to Better
Better Pilot
Pilot Decisions
Decisions

By: William Benhoff

Safety Program Manager
Cleveland FSDO

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 Introduction
Introduction

When certified a pilot is expected to:

Be responsible in behavior
Understand and interpret the “rules”
To use “Good Judgment”
Accident statistics indicate 80 to 85% of all
GA accidents involve “Pilot Error”

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 Pilot
Pilot Error
Error

 Oversimplification
 Pilots intend to fly
safely
 Make decisional errors
 Skill and luck most
times is enough to
save them -
Sometimes it’s not

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 Dear
Dear School
School

 Ben Franklin in the

1734 edition of Poor
Richard’s Almanac”
said:
 “Experience keeps a
dear school, but fools
will learn in no other”

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 Good
Good Experience
Experience

Training
 Controlled Environment
 With a “qualified” Instructor
 Simulated Problems

Safety Seminars
Hanger Flying

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 Judgment
Judgment

Pilot Judgment - takes 2 forms

Cognitive:
 More time to think
 Final decision is easily influenced by non-
flight factors
Perceptual:
 Without much thought
 Not easily influenced

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 Objectives
Objectives

Help you move your pilot decisions from

Cognitive to Perceptual
Give you a 5 step “checklist” to help you
make better decisions
Reduce your chances of enrolling in that
“Dear School”

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

It’s easy and requires no purchase

It is within arms reach at all times!!!
Each flight has 4 risk factors:
Pilot
Aircraft
Environment
Operation

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

The Pilot
 Any evaluation of the
pilot, is included in the
First Step.

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 The
The Pilot
Pilot

I - Illness
M - Medication
S - Stress
A - Alcohol
F - Fatigue
E - Eating
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 Illness
Illness

Do you have any symptoms?

What will be their effects in flight
Will they cause you discomfort
How will they effect other decisions
Do you really want to fly if your sick?
There is no MEL for the pilot

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 Medication
Medication

FAR 91.17(a)(3) states you can not fly

while taking any drug that effects your
faculties in any way contrary to safety
Have you been taking any prescription or
over-the-counter medication?
CAFFEINE ????

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 Stress
Stress
Some stress - good / A lot of stress - bad ---
very bad
Life stress vs Flight stress

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 Life
Life Stress
Stress

Life stress values:

Death in family ......................50 pts.
Serious health problem..........37 pts.
Lack of sleep.........................34 pts.
Government action................29 pts.
Employment...........................26 pts.
Total of 50-70 pts. - could be trouble

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 Alcohol
Alcohol

FAR 91. 17 (a) has three parts to it:

8 hours
.04 Blood alcohol
Under the influence
What have I been drinking within the last 8
hours? Within 24 hours?

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 Fatigue
Fatigue

Am I tired or not adequately rested?

In the life stress it rated 34 pts. It even
scored more points than serious financial
problem = 29 pts.
In parts 121 and 135 there are limits of duty
time and rest hours set.
 However under Part 91 you can fly until
you drop - perhaps literally.
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 Eating
Eating

Am I adequately nourished?

Vending Machine or Fast Food
Good meal with proper foods
How long ago was your last meal?
 Too long
 Too soon

Remember school and a good breakfast

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

 If all evaluations of
the pilot are
SATISFACTORY
 Fold down that finger
and go to Step 2

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

The Aircraft
 Any Judgment about
the aircraft and it’s
equipment

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 The
The Aircraft
Aircraft

Don’t use - THE WRONG TOOL

Is the aircraft your using on this flight
adequate for the conditions expected?
Instrument vs. All Weather
Equipped for your use
How current / qualified are you to fly it?

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 Maintenance
Maintenance

Are the required inspections completed?

How can you verify this information
When was the last maintenance completed
Are there any open discrepancies
IS THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK ON
BOARD!!!!

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 The
The Preflight
Preflight

Is a good thorough preflight inspection

completed?
Carefully look over every aircraft flown
Know what each leak is, and why each stain
is there
Verify all equipment is working or address
why it’s not required

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 Limitations
Limitations

Plan, Plan, Plan, then plan some more

Know how much fuel is required and how
much is being used
Runway lengths required
Weight and Balance of each leg
Don’t be an “Experimenter Pilot”

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

 If all evaluations of
the aircraft are
SATISFACTORY
 Fold down that finger
and go to Step 3.

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

The Environment
 Any evaluation of
where and in what will
the flight be operated
in

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 The
The Weather
Weather

VFR or IFR
Winds
Visibility
Icing
If you live by the forecast, you shall die by
the forecast

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 When
When is
is the
the Flight?
Flight?

Time of the day:

 Day/VFR
 Day/IFR
 Night/VFR
 Night/IFR

Season:
 Winter vs. Summer
 Spring vs Fall

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 The
The Airport
Airport

Airport location:
Busy Airport / Class B Airspace
Aircraft Traffic Mix
Grass Field, remote location
Surrounding area
Facilities Available - airport / aircraft

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 Air
Air Traffic
Traffic Control
Control

Availability - Services provided

Complexity
Weather observation
 Observer
 AWOS - different levels of services/info.
 NONE????

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

 If all evaluations of
the environment are
SATISFACTORY
 Fold down that finger
and go to Step 4.

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

The Operation
 WHY IS THIS
FLIGHT BEING
MADE????

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 The
The Operation
Operation

The most easily influenced by factors not

related to safety
The area where the majority of the Poor
Decisional Errors are made
Requires a personal commitment to not
exceed your limitations

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 Is
Is the
the Flight
Flight worth
worth the
the Risk?
Risk?

Is this flight:
Low investment - High return
High investment - Low return
Must this flight be conducted NOW or can it
be DELAYED
Is this a financial decision?

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 Pressure
Pressure

Where is the pressure coming from?

Pressure = Flight Stress
Serious Disagreement..............50 pts.
System Failure...................50 - 30 pts.
Deteriorating Weather..............45 pts.
Violation on This Flight..............31 pts.
Almost an Accident...................25 pts.

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 Total
Total Stress
Stress

Some Personal Stress when added to your

Flight Stress -
It’s easy to get above 50 - 70 points, putting
you at risk for stress related decisional
errors

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 Sources
Sources of
of Stress
Stress

Other “Flight Stress” induces:

Passengers
What are their motivations
Who is the expert in aviation
Do they FULLY understand the risks
Is it a failure to communicate the situation
to them?

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 More
More Sources
Sources

Employer
Is it a communication problem
Who is above this person
1,000 other pilots?
A violation? For you or the company
Is this job worth your life?

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 Even
Even More
More Sources
Sources

Other Pilots:
Sometimes our worst enemies
Would they really go with all the
information you have?
What are their decision making skills
Perhaps they are WRONG - and you are
RIGHT !!!!!!

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 The
The Biggest
Biggest Source
Source

The Pilot
Is all this pressure from you
What are your alternatives
Have you carefully analyzed the risk factors
- can any be changed?
What are your true motivations????

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

If all evaluations of

the Operation are
SATISFACTORY
Fold down that
finger and go to
Step 5.

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

The Situation
 If all fingers are folded
down, meaning all risk
are SATISFACTORY
 Start or Continue

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 The
The 55 Step
Step Checklist
Checklist

 If any fingers are still

out, meaning a risk
factor is not
satisfactory
 NO GO or STOP
 Determine how you
can change the risk

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 The
The Decision
Decision

GO / NO GO Decision
GO / Continue to go Decision
Continually make decisions based upon the
5 Risk Factors, to continue the flight or
divert

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 Point
Point to
to Ponder
Ponder

Who is the Captain/Pilot In Command?

You are never really a Captain, until you
can say “NO”
One of the responsibilities of command is
the ability to say “NO” in the interest of
Safety

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 ????????????
????????????

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 Thank
Thank You
You

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