The Big Picture

I ts widely accepted that having good situational awareness is vital to safe and efficient flying. But what does situational awareness even mean? How do we develop and maintain the good kind? How do we fit ourselves into the big picture, and why is it important to do so? And once we understand these aspects of situational awareness, how can we use it to make things easier? On three recent flights, I feel I had a high level of situational awareness and used it to make a difference. In one I used my knowledge of my place in the big picture to help another pilot. In the second I used it to help myself. In the third I used it to eliminate a possible delay on an approach. Heres what Im talking about.

Tom Turner

Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Situational awareness (SA) in aviation means accurately perceiving and understanding all factors affecting flight safety, requiring pilots to maintain a "big picture" view beyond immediate cockpit focus.
Good SA enables pilots to make proactive decisions, enhancing safety and efficiency, such as assisting other aircraft, mitigating potential delays, and optimizing flight planning and fuel management.
Developing and maintaining SA involves actively looking outward, understanding the broader operational environment, and anticipating future impacts, while guarding against obstacles like fixation, distraction, and complacency, even with advanced avionics.

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I t’s widely accepted that having “good situational awareness” is vital to safe and efficient flying. But what does “situational awareness” even mean? How do we develop and maintain the “good” kind? How do we fit ourselves into the big picture, and why is it important to do so? And once we understand these aspects of situational awareness, how can we use it to make things easier? On three recent flights, I feel I had a high level of situational awareness and used it to make a difference. In one I used my knowledge of my place in the big picture to help another pilot. In the second I used it to help myself. In the third I used it to eliminate a possible delay on an approach. Here’s what I’m talking about.