“You can’t teach judgment.” “I’m afraid no amount of ‘risk management’ training is going to change your attitude.” These comments were in response to John’s May column, “Double Trouble at Denver.” John had revealed our incredible series of risk-management failures on a trip in the early ’70s — getting caught in a snowstorm in two separate airplanes with mechanical problems. John then expressed our fond hope that other pilots could learn from our mistakes and practice the habit of risk management.
Sky Kings: Why Some Pilots Are Bad Risk Managers
Key Takeaways:
- Risk management, distinct from inherent judgment, is a teachable habit comprising systematic situational awareness (risk identification) and developing mitigation strategies, often supported by scenario-based training and mnemonic tools.
- Pilots often fail in risk management due to a lack of systematic training in identifying potential risks, leading to being caught off guard ("not knowing what we don't know").
- Resistance to risk mitigation stems from two main psychological profiles: "showoff" pilots who seek thrills and believe they can overcome risks, and "goal-oriented" pilots who are hard-wired to complete objectives and resistant to changing plans.
- Effective risk management requires pilots to understand these psychological pressures, engage in introspection, and accept reasonable limitations on their flying utility rather than continuing in the face of mounting risks.
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