Every flight begins with a decision. In Safer Pilot Challenge Day 6, Jason Schappert explains how go no go choices shape safety outcomes. Strong decision making matters more than raw skill. Go no go discipline protects pilots from unnecessary risk.
Using Structured Decision Tools
Good decisions rely on structure. The FAA promotes the PAVE checklist to evaluate risk. PAVE stands for Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, and External pressures. Each category forces honest assessment.Pilots should start with themselves. Fatigue, stress, and illness degrade judgment. Aircraft condition also matters. Equipment limits affect safe outcomes. The environment includes weather, terrain, and airspace. External pressures often create the most danger. Schedules and expectations push pilots toward bad choices.
Hazardous Attitudes Affect Judgment
Every pilot carries hazardous attitudes. The FAA identifies five common types. These include Macho, Invulnerability, Resignation, Anti-authority, and Impulsivity. Each attitude distorts decision making. Antidotes counter these risks. Slowing down reduces impulsivity. Following rules counters anti-authority thinking. Accepting vulnerability improves realism. Pilots must recognize personal tendencies. Awareness prevents errors before they begin.
Setting Personal Minimums
Personal minimums remove emotion from decisions. Pilots should define limits for wind, visibility, and cloud conditions. These limits must remain firm. Numbers should decide, not feelings. Personal minimums change with experience. New aircraft require higher margins. New environments demand caution. Carrying passengers increases responsibility. Clear limits simplify go no go decisions.
Planning for the No-Go and the Go-Around
Every flight needs alternatives. Plan B and Plan C should exist before departure. Diversions should never feel like failure. Changing conditions demand flexibility. Pilots must also prepare mentally to go around. Salvaging a poor approach increases risk. A stabilized approach leads to a safe landing. If doubt appears, execute the go-around. Go no go discipline builds confidence. Consistent decisions create safer flights every time.
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