Acknowledgements:
John Zimmerman/AIR FACTS
Flying an airplane is a never-ending series of decisions. Is the
airplane airworthy? What’s the weather like? Where is that other airplane
going? When should I turn base? Failing to ask these questions and make timely
decisions can earn you a place in an accident report if you’re unlucky.
But there’s another decision-making error lurking out there, more common
yet rarely discussed: we view most aviation decisions as binary. Yes or no,
black or white. It’s rarely so in aviation, which is more about subtle clues, 50/50 decisions and shades
of grey.
For example, the “go/no go” decision. A pilot looks at his airplane, his
skills and the weather, then decides if it’s safe to fly the planned trip. A
simple yes or no question. But it is hardly that simple. It’s really a series
of questions with a variety of possible answers; rather an essay than a single “true/false”
question. Here are four ways to help expand your view of the flight planning
process:
·
Go now or go later/earlier?
First off, the estimated time of departure (ETD). Viewed as a binary
choice, that line of storms bearing down on the airport looks like an easy no
go. But what about leaving an hour earlier, before the storms get close, or
leaving the next morning, when skies will be clear? That flexibility is what helps
make general aviation so much fun. Most pilots know this, but many don’t take
advantage of it. Don’t get so locked into your original plan that you fail to see attractive alternatives.
·
Go direct or go around?
My
multi-engine flight instructor would challenge me during pre-flight planning by
saying: “you have to go, so show me a route that is safe.” An exaggeration, as
in truth we
never have to go, but he wanted me to get a feel for his
decision-making mind-set. It’s amazing how often a flight can be completed
safely and comfortably if you’re willing to deviate. On a 400-mile trip, even a
100-mile detour will be quickly forgotten if you have a smooth ride. Arriving
is half the fun anyway!
·
Go all the way or go part of the way and
stop?
Naively
blasting off and hoping low-level IFR conditions will magically disappear is a
bad idea. But flying as far as the weather allows and then diverting can be
smart and effective. It might mean an hour or a day on the ground, but done with firm limits
in mind, it can be a useful tool in the pilot’s bag. Similarly, you can choose
to go some of the way and turn around if it’s worse than forecast.
·
Go solo or take another pilot?
Some
days, especially when the forecast involves thin cloud layers or gusty winds,
the safe answer is no go. But if you’re willing to push yourself, it can be a
valuable learning experience to go flying with another, more seasoned pilot.
This way you get “on the job training” without scaring yourself. Just be sure to obey
two rules: know and trust who you’re flying with, and thoroughly brief as to who
is pilot in command before starting the engine.
All of these demand careful planning and discipline; they can’t be used as shortcuts or
excuses for poor decisions. But grappling with tricky decisions and thus expanding
one’s personal skills is the one of the real joys of being a pilot. As GA
pilots we have the ability to control when and how we fly, and can each establish
our own Standard Operating Procedures. If we give up that tool without a second
thought, we may make our flying less useful, less enjoyable, and perhaps less safe.
So next time don’t ask yourself “go or no go?” Instead, consider “under what conditions
would this flight be safe and enjoyable?” At the very least, it’s a valuable
exercise for your decision-making muscles.
FLY SAFE!
