Rote Understanding and Flight Risk Management

according to the NTSB, and was forced to ditch the airplane in Seattle's Elliot Bay, out of gas.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Monday, July 18, 2016 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Current aviation risk management training often focuses on memorizing acronyms (e.g., PAVE, IMSAFE), leading to "rote understanding" rather than genuine comprehension and application of risk identification and mitigation.
This superficial approach makes it difficult for pilots to effectively assess and manage risks in the dynamic, subjective circumstances of actual flight, limiting successful mitigation.
While organized, acronym-laden tools are the industry's current best solution for uniform risk management training, pilots must move beyond mere memorization to achieve a deeper understanding and honest quantification of risks.

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I recently spent some quality time at a name-brand flight training facility, one which helps pilots at all experience levels meet their certification goals. One morning while waiting for better weather, I meandered to the coffee pot and found a CFI and student engaged in a frustrating-for-both discussion of risk management. In fact, there was violent agreement among them on the need to manage risk, but the student was rebelling at having to memorize various acronyms and explain what they mean.

Before I could get my first coffee sip fully swallowed, the student casually turned to me and asked if I knew what PAVE and IMSAFE stood for, and what they meant. Poor guy had no way to know I edit this magazine but I don’t think he expected my answer: “Yeah, actually, I do know what they mean. But the important part isn’t memorizing acronyms, it’s about recognizing and understanding the risks, then mitigating them.” Which got me to thinking: Are we doing this risk management thing wrong?