News Training and Proficiency What A CFI Wants You To Know

Pilot Decision Making Requires a Wealth of Analysis

Becoming a pilot is more than muscle memory.

Meg Godlewski

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 09:40 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: tccjeremy

Every CFI has experienced a ‘teachable moment’ when one of their clients makes a poor decision. [Credit: Pixabay]

Key Takeaways:

Effective aeronautical decision-making (ADM) is paramount for pilots, requiring thorough evaluation of all flight information, adherence to personal minimums, and the willingness to alter or cancel flights due to deteriorating conditions.
Flight instructors (CFIs) play a crucial role in teaching ADM, ensuring students understand their options (e.g., alternate landings), and providing timely, context-specific endorsements for flights.
Pilots must overcome "get-there-itis" and recognize the limitations of technology, prioritizing safety by making sound judgments, turning back when necessary, and utilizing resources like air traffic control for guidance.

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The learner was a student pilot nearly ready to embark on his first solo flight to another airport within 25 nm. At least that’s what the syllabus called for that day.

The weather was VFR when he arrived at the home airport, but as he inspected the aircraft, he noted the conditions were rapidly moving toward marginal visual flight rules (MVFR) as the hills in the distance were starting to disappear. After some discussion with his CFI, the learner made the decision to stay in the pattern for solo flight, saying he didn’t want to get caught out if the weather trend continued downward.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.