Aeronautical Decision Making, Pilot In Command Responsibility, Liability, and Common Sense
“Aeronautical decision-making (ADM) is decision-making in a unique environment—aviation. It is a systematic approach to the mental process used by pilots to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances. It is what a pilot intends to do based on the latest information he or she has.” That, my friends, is a direct quote from the revered Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, a handbook published by the FAA for the edification of those who fly. Clearly, good decision making skills are critical for the safe outcome of any flight. Continuing your aviation education through, say, attending FAA safety seminars, opting for recurrent training whether it is required or not, reading the latest publications in the field, and frequenting websites devoted to the subject is a wise investment in your decision making abilities. However, it must be be stressed that what we’re developing here are YOUR DECISION MAKING ABILITIES. Which means that MySkyMom.com and it’s intrepid author can in no way be held responsible for any decisions you might make. If any advice you find here contradicts an FAR (Federal Aviation Regulation) or the manufacturer’s recommendations for the aircraft you fly, you must abide by the FARs or the manufacturer recommendation.
It should also be pointed out that good advice is, of course, situational, and applying the same actions under different sets of circumstances may give you very different outcomes indeed. It is up to you as the Pilot in Command to determine what choices will be optimal for you, in your aircraft, under changeable circumstances, which cannot always be foreseen by your humble author. For the love of aviation and your own hide, use common sense in the application of any wisdom gleaned here or elsewhere in your study of aviation! FAR 91.3, after all, explicitly states that you are the final authority and bear the final responsibility for the safety of your flight. This means, among other things, that you don’t get to go around suing poor CFIs if you have misapplied some advice and gotten yourself (or your unsuspecting passengers) into a bad spot.
So, let’s buff up those decision making skills that will determine your comfort level and longevity as an aviator, shall we? I highly recommend reading the entirety of Chapter 17 in the Pilots’ Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge. Seriously. You have no excuse not to; this is the third time in a couple of paragraphs I’ve included the link!
I hate to include it, but such is life. Hence, the necessary legal stuff: MySkyMom.com and its author cannot be held responsible or liable in any way for any injury, property damage, FAR violation, or death that may result in part or wholly from the following of any advice promulgated by this website. You accept full responsibility for any decisions you make using this information which will be correct to the best of my knowledge but which may not be correct under every circumstance and could upon occasion be absolutely wrong. Don’t sue me. Thanks!
Harsh warnings aside, when carefully undertaken, flying can be a wonderful and very safe endeavor. Keep learning, stay both current and proficient with your skills and experience, and enjoy this wonderful hobby or career. Blue skies, all!
