Decision Making - P-5530054

JOINT ADVANCED MULTI-ENGINE T-44A

you will evaluate the given situations, arrive at logical and safe decisions, and communicate these

decisions to the crew. To better illustrate the desired behaviors we want to develop, the seven critical

ACT skills are listed below.

Decision Making. This is the ability to use logical and sound judgement based on the information

available. Effective decision-making (good headwork) is developed over time; experience and training

dominate the cognitive process of problem solving. Some situations will require immediate action

(emergency memory items) while other situations (low fuel, bad weather) may allow for more time.

Fortunately, in most situations encountered by a multi-engine PIC, flight critical decisions have the

luxury of time, thought, and discussion.

Assertiveness. This is a crewmember's willingness to actively participate, state, and maintain a

position until convinced by facts that other options are better. Assertiveness involves the open flow of

information within the cockpit in a tactful and professional way, never assuming other crewmembers

see or know something. It also means having a "healthy dose of skepticism" with regard to ATC

instructions as well as to the navigational instruments (are they telling you what you expect?).

Mission Analysis. This is the ability to develop short-term, long-term, and contingency plans and to

coordinate, allocate, and monitor resources. Mission analysis involves updating critical information

(fuel, weather, etc.) and identifying and communicating changes to the plan.

Communication. This is the ability to clearly and accurately send and acknowledge information,

instructions, or commands, and to provide useful feedback. Good communication skills include

practicing standardized and professional communication techniques (both inside and outside the

cockpit), providing clear and thorough briefs, and verbalizing plans or altered plans for procedures or

maneuvers to the copilot.

Leadership. This is the ability to direct and coordinate the activities of other crewmembers, and to

encourage the crew to work together as a team. Involve the crew in the decision-making progress.

Adaptability. This is the ability to alter a course of action to meet situational demands, maintain

constructive behavior under pressure, and interact constructively with other crewmembers.

Adaptability involves anticipating problems or changes that may occur, recognizing and

acknowledging malfunctions or abnormalities, and changing the plan to respond to the situation.

Situational Awareness. Situational awareness is the accurate perception of the factors and conditions

affecting you, your crew, the aircraft, and the surrounding environment, now and in the near future. In

simplest terms, it is knowing what is going on around you--a concept embraced in the need to "think

ahead of the aircraft," which every pilot learns in primary flight training and is reminded of thereafter.

When perception matches reality, you have good situational awareness. Without situational

awareness, nothing else may matter; the loss or a lack of situational awareness is the biggest factor in

nearly all accidents designated by the NTSB as controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). Five elements

contributing to situational awareness:

(1) Experience and Training. Experience is gained by doing and establishes how you interpret and

respond to conditions and events. Training enhances your experience by creating events that rarely

occur in day-to-day flying. By repetitive and supervised practice, responses to rare stimuli can become

part of a well-developed routine.

(2) Physical Flying Skills. Flying the aircraft remains the highest order of priority, regardless of other

demands for a pilot's attention.

(3) Spatial Orientation is position awareness, knowing where the aircraft is in relation to attitude,

altitude, terrain, navigational aids, airports, runways, and other aircraft. You must know, at all times,

where the aircraft is and where it is going.

(4) Health and Attitude. Physical and emotional health affects one's ability to clearly define the world

as it exists around him or her. Attitude has a strong influence on safety, which cannot be achieved

without dedicated, positive effort.

RADIO INSTRUMENTS STAGE

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