Pushing Reset

We all have been there. You’re on a certificate or rating checkride and you make one little mistake—nothing huge, nothing that puts the outcome of the flight or the practical test in jeopardy—yet. The examiner, who has been discreetly scribbling away on a notepad throughout your performance, ticks something off, but shows only a carefully schooled poker-face. You don’t hear, “Stop the flight.” So you continue. But you get a little rattled. Come on, everyone does! The examiner doesn’t care, though. What you do next is the important part: Can you stop the fault-chain you triggered with your first error?

Key Takeaways:

• Pilots must be able to break an "accident chain" initiated by mistakes by effectively hitting a mental "reset button" to regain control and return to a safe flight state.
• Effective problem-solving in aviation relies on training the brain to focus on the immediate issue, rather than attempting to multitask, which can lead to confusion or further errors.
• Crucial tools for addressing in-flight faults include thorough checklists, asking for clarification, and deliberate troubleshooting, whether for mechanical issues or human-induced errors.
• A pilot's competence is demonstrated by their ability to calmly channel their knowledge and focus on specific tasks to diagnose and solve in-flight problems, ensuring overall flight safety.

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