Situational awareness, or “SA,” is sometimes used to explain why someone suffered an accident. “He had bad situational awareness” is supposed to describe a scenario in which a pilot does the unthinkable, and it results in tragedy. As with most Monday-morning quarterbacking, theres an element of “I would never do that” in applying the “bad situational awareness” label, a comforting thought for the next time we launch into the blue or descend into the murk. But knowing that the other pilot had “bad” SA does not ensure that somehow we will have “good” SA in similar 288
SA, Lost And Found
you need to find out why and then decide how to fix it. Sometimes
Key Takeaways:
- Situational awareness (SA) is a pilot's perception of conditions affecting flight safety, and its degradation is a significant factor in aviation accidents, often impacting highly experienced crews.
- Common indicators of lost SA include failing to meet operational targets, feeling rushed, inadequate flight planning, mission fixation, encountering ambiguity, and a general sense of unease or "bad feeling."
- Regaining or maintaining SA involves deliberate actions such as pausing to assess the situation ("winding the clock"), utilizing checklists, comprehensive pre-flight planning with alternatives, clarifying any ambiguities, and mastering advanced cockpit technology without over-reliance.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
See a mistake? Contact us.
