The FAA says we should stop crashing-good idea, yes? The problem, though, is to figure out why we crash so we can stop doing whatever it is that makes us crash. I have a few broad-brush ideas about why we crash: bad luck, incompetence and bad judgment.
Aviation accidents primarily stem from bad luck, incompetence, and critically, bad judgment, with the latter being the most difficult to proactively address.
Unlike incompetence, which can be fixed with training, bad judgment is often only recognized in hindsight, highlighting the challenge of preventing poor decisions.
To improve judgment, pilots should actively question non-routine situations by asking how a decision might appear in an accident report or "rear-view mirror" before proceeding.
The article encourages pilots to prioritize safety over bravado by choosing different, safer actions if the imagined "rear-view mirror" reflection suggests a bad outcome.
The FAA says we should stop crashing—good idea, yes? The problem, though, is to figure out why we crash so we can stop doing whatever it is that makes us crash. I have a few broad-brush ideas about why we crash: bad luck, incompetence and bad judgment.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
