|
Introduction to Glider Flying > Introduction to Glider Flying > Risk Management
During each flight, decisions must be made
regarding events that involve interactions between the four
risk elements—the pilot in com-mand, the aircraft, the
environment, and the operation. The decision-making process
involves an evaluation of each of these risk elements to achieve
an accurate perception of the flight situation. [Figure 1-4]
Figure 1-4. When situationally aware,
you have an overview of the total operation and are not fixated
on one perceived significant factor.
One of the most important decisions that a
pilot in command must make is the go/no-go decision. Evaluating
each of these risk elements can help you decide whether a flight
should be conducted or continued. Let us evaluate the four risk
ele-ments and how they affect our decision making regarding
the following situations.
Pilot—As a pilot, you must continually
make deci-sions about your own competency, condition of health,
mental and emotional state, level of fatigue, and many other
variables. For example, you plan for an extended cross-country
flight. You have had only a few hours of sleep, and you are
concerned that the congestion you feel could be the onset of
a cold. Are you safe to fly?
Aircraft—You will frequently base decisions
on your evaluations of the aircraft, such as performance, equipment,
or airworthiness. Picture yourself in the following situation.
You are on a cross-country flight and have begun to fly over
extremely rugged ter-rain, which covers the next 20 miles of
your planned route and will not allow you to land safely should
the need arise. The thermals are beginning to dissipate and
your altitude is 3,000 feet above ground level (AGL). Should
you continue to fly over this terrain?
Environment—This encompasses many elements
not pilot or aircraft related. It can include such fac-tors
as weather, air traffic control, navaids, terrain, takeoff and
landing areas, and surrounding obsta-cles. Weather is one element
that can change dras-tically over time and distance. Imagine
you are flying on a cross-country flight when you encounter
unexpected snow squalls and declining visibility in an area
of rising terrain. Do you try to stay aloft and stay clear of
the snow or land at the airport located in the valley below
as soon as possible?
Operation—The interaction between you
as the pilot, your aircraft, and the environment is greatly
influ-
Figure 1-5. Statistical data can identify
operations that have the highest risk.
enced by the purpose of each flight operation.You
m u s t evaluate the three previous areas to decide on the desirability
of undertaking or continuing the flight as planned. It is worth
asking yourself why the flight is being made, how critical is
it to maintain the schedule, and is the trip worth the risks?
For instance, you are giving glider rides at a busy commercial
glider operation located near a mountain range on an extremely
windy and turbulent day with strong downdrafts. Would itbe better
to wait for better conditions to ensure safe flight? How would
your priorities change if your boss told you he only wanted
you to take one more flight and then you could call it a day?
|
