Essential Situational Awareness

An online search for “aviation safety” resulted in about 14,900,000 results. As pilots, we agree that safety underpins everything we do in aviation. Accident rates have decreased over time as aircraft reliability increases, while technology provides ever greater in-flight control and real-time or near-real-time data. However, accidents still occur, and the majority stubbornly remain due to pilot error. Pilots still fall prey to loss of control, controlled flight into terrain, and myriad other “end of the accident chain” situations. The final moments of accidents are neatly placed into causal buckets for analysis. However, the ultimate outcome of accidents and incidents are in many cases preceded by a loss of situational awareness (SA).

 

Maintaining SA is an important aviation skill. Pilots must learn to be cognizant of the many and constantly varying factors affecting a flight. They must comprehend the meaning of changes, anticipate impacts, and determine the best course of action. Rather than “one and done,” the dynamic nature of flying mandates continuous decision-making. Over time and with practice, skilled aviators develop the perception, understanding, and projection skills essential for safety. Developing these abilities is not automatic. It takes time and effort. The good news is that honing SA provides benefits that far exceed the time invested. Adopting a general mindset of awareness, comprehension, anticipation, and adjustment makes us better pilots.

 

As a DPE I have issued a significant number of Notices of Disapproval as the direct result of a pilot applicant losing SA. Illustrating its importance, “situational awareness” is cited 48 times in the Private Pilot Airman Certification Standards alone, the majority in risk management. Testing standards state that the applicant is able to identify, assess, and mitigate risk associated with loss of situational awareness. Maintaining SA is also in several tested skill tasks. Do these examination standards apply to aviators after they receive a pilot certificate? Yes! During flight reviews, instructors are required to verify that the pilot’s demonstrated ability meets the level of testing standards applicable to their certificate. The flight review isn’t a pilot certification examination but a verification that the pilot continues to meet basic proficiency requirements. Keep in mind that the FAA’s testing standards are the minimum requirements for pilot proficiency. If that basic proficiency isn’t demonstrated, the pilot does not receive a flight review endorsement.

 

Let’s contemplate a few of the considerations inherent in any flight and the result of losing SA. The following examples come from pilot examinations but similar situations could occur during a flight review, solo, or when flying with passengers.

 

Terrain and Obstacles

During an exam, I asked the pilot whether there were any VORs within range. After choosing a heading and altitude, the candidate spent minutes riveted on their iPad and avionics, never looking up or noticing that the aircraft was in a gentle descent while also heading toward rising terrain. When I interrupted their ongoing heads-down activity, the pilot was visibly shocked by the now-close upcoming terrain and shaken by what could have occurred.

 

Communication and Traffic

ATC provided the location, distance, altitude, and direction of traffic 2 miles away, stating, “Targets appear likely to merge.” The pilot did not respond but continued on the same altitude and heading, scanning while the aircraft at our altitude rapidly approached. ATC came on the radio a second time, advising an immediate turn and direction. The pilot responded “Looking for traffic” while still maintaining the same heading and altitude. It became clear that the pilot would not follow ATC guidance or take evasive action.

 

Nontowered Airports

Nontowered airport operations require heightened SA. Numerous issues arise such as lack of clear and accurate communications, incorrectly selected traffic patterns, and traffic conflicts. On downwind for landing at a diversion airport, a pilot was startled to see an aircraft taking off on the opposite runway. The other pilot had not made calls on the radio until departure, and the pilot planning to land was flummoxed. He flew along on downwind uncertain of what to do, silent on the radio, openly questioning his runway decision and what to do next, and oblivious to the departing aircraft rapidly climbing and heading toward us.

 

Airspace

Airspace incursions would seem to be easily avoidable with modern electronic flight bag apps and installed avionics. However, pilots still regularly incur pilot deviations. During the preflight briefing on pilot exams, I explain there is no intention to try tricking the candidate, and I will not direct headings and altitudes toward controlled airspace. However, on numerous occasions, pilots would have incurred airspace violations due to their own actions. During a recent flight, the pilot misread the heading indicator and did not notice we were flying over a large city and directly toward a Class C airport rather than over the countryside they had planned for the route. In the case of many airspace incursions pilots simply do not notice they are encroaching upon controlled airspace, even with clearly marked cockpit displays.

 

What causes a loss of SA? While specific to each situation, distraction is a common root cause. Equipment issues, passengers, and communications are examples of distractors that may lead a pilot to change focus long enough to lose SA. In addition to being a distraction, unexpected events also require the pilot to make decisions about steps to take and priorities. Conflicting or misplaced priorities can result in a loss of ‘big picture’ SA. Someone who is grappling with uncertainty will typically narrow their concentration while dealing with the unanticipated issue. 

 

In addition to losing situational awareness, problems may also arise from not having gained SA to the extent needed for consistently safe flying. Good situational awareness is not an inherent trait. It must be learned and practiced. If not practiced, complacency creeps in and pilots run into a gamut of issues such as the previous examples, and additional risks including flight into deteriorating weather conditions. Flying is dynamic, and there are many elements requiring constant vigilance such as weather, aircraft systems, geographic orientation, mode awareness, sequence (what comes next), passengers, and flight status.

 

How do we learn, improve, and maintain our situational awareness? SA in flight involves effective flight management. Thorough flight planning is crucial and avoiding any urge to let complacency take root, particularly with what become familiar routes. Thoughtfully debrief each flight to consider what was learned, what could be improved, whether distractions occurred and how they were managed.  Think about situations that might occur in flight (equipment malfunctions, illness, changing weather, deviations, etc.)  and appropriate actions. Review accident studies and consider what could have changed the outcome. Scenario-based training is effective. Flying with a CFI to practice uncommon events or task-heavy activities can help pilots learn effective prioritization and decision-making. Introducing task saturation in a practice scenario is much safer than a pilot dealing with a similar situation for the first time alone.

 

Fly safely, practice safety.

 

Karen Kalishek serves as chair of the National Association of Flight Instructors. She is a Designated Pilot Examiner, four-time NAFI Master Instructor, CFI, CFII, MEI, CFI-G, AGI, IGI, FAA Gold Seal Instructor, FAASTeam Lead Representative, and WINGSPro. In 2019, Karen was honored to receive the National FAASTeam Representative of the Year award.  She holds an ATP certificate and has ASES and Glider Commercial privileges. and enjoys quality time with her RV-6.

 Karen has held officer positions and is actively involved with several aviation organizations. She is passionate about aviation safety and serves on the GAJSC, FAA Surface Safety Group, Runway Safety Council, and Angle of Attack Working Group, among others. She also writes a weekly column and makes aviation safety and instructional presentations throughout the year.  Karen is a Major in the Civil Air Patrol, serving as a CAP volunteer flight instructor, Safety Officer, check pilot, examiner, mission pilot, and cadet orientation pilot.

Prior to aviation, Karen was a banking executive, taught graduate school, and also traveled the world for twenty years as president of her own international consulting company. 

 

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