Tem-Work In Tampa

ppreidecker

Thursday, July 22, 2021 at 11:34 AM ET

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Key Takeaways:

Threat and Error Management (TEM) is an aviation discipline that equips pilots to identify external threats (e.g., equipment malfunctions, weather) and manage internal errors (e.g., handling, procedural) to maintain safety margins.
TEM involves anticipation, vigilance, recognition, and recovery, using countermeasures like thorough planning, checklists, and standard operating procedures to "trap errors" and prevent undesired aircraft states, as exemplified by a real-life pressurization incident.

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The Lear 35 medical-transport flight on which I was the captain had just departed Tampa International (KTPA) for Portland, ME (KPWM) carrying an elderly patient and his wife. It was a busy departure as we were already looking for deviations around the typical Florida summertime thunderstorms. The “pop”—accompanied by the sound of rushing air—came just as we passed through 12,500 feet.

As pressurization problems go, it could have been far worse, especially if we had already reached the Lear’s lofty cruising altitude. Still, this particular scenario created plenty of opportunities to practice our threat and error management (TEM) techniques.