Master and Commander

An approach to safety of dont have an accident and always effectively weight risks doesnt work because we dont take actions we think will cause accidents. Tom Turner recently presented a Wings seminar, Stop Teaching About Safety, covering this. Safetys an integral outcome, not a separate goal. Instead, he suggested approaching flying as its master and commander: The result will be safety. While being master and commander will work for all pilots, the instrument environment presents unique challenges to achieving that goal.

Key Takeaways:

• The article argues that a traditional "don't have an accident" safety approach is ineffective, as human factors like emotions and external pressures inherently skew risk assessment and decision-making.
• It proposes that pilots adopt a "master and commander" mindset, viewing safety as an integral outcome of high proficiency and authoritative decision-making rather than a separate goal.
• "Mastering" involves deep skill and proficiency in aircraft operations, weather interpretation, and general flight management, including a thorough understanding of systems and automation.
• "Commanding" encompasses authority, leadership, and decision-making, requiring strong situational awareness, the ability to visualize a desired outcome, develop a plan, and execute it, even when it means challenging automation or ATC instructions for safety.

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