“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 is a distinct, teachable habit comprising systematic situational awareness and developing mitigation strategies, which can be fostered through scenario-based training and mnemonic tools, contrary to the belief that judgment is innate.
- Pilots often resist mitigating identified risks due to internal and external pressures, falling into two groups: thrill-seekers who actively court danger, and goal-oriented individuals (the majority) who are hard-wired to complete tasks and dislike abandoning plans.
- Overcoming resistance to risk mitigation, especially for goal-oriented pilots, requires introspection and accepting reasonable limitations on flight utility, recognizing that an inherent drive to complete goals can paradoxically increase risk.
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