Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)

Most aviation incidents trace back to human choices—not hardware. ADM gives remote pilots a repeatable way to spot hazards, weigh risk, and choose the safest action under changing conditions.

Learn the Framework

1) Hazards, Risk & How Decisions Fail
Hazard: a present/possible condition that can harm the operation. Risk: the likelihood × severity if you don’t act. If either is high, change the plan.
- Choose to mitigate, eliminate, accept knowingly, or transfer risk.
- Common pitfalls: get-there-itis, scud-running, VFR into IMC, skipping checklists, fuel mismanagement, task overload.
2) Human Factors: 5 Hazardous Attitudes (+ Antidotes)
- Anti-authority: “Don’t tell me.” → Follow the rules—usually right.
- Impulsivity: “Do it now!” → Not so fast—think first.
- Invulnerability: “Won’t happen to me.” → It could happen to me.
- Macho: “I can do it.” → Taking chances is foolish.
- Resignation: “What’s the use?” → I can make a difference.
Call out the attitude and speak the antidote out loud to reset judgment.
3) Preflight Risk Checks: PAVE & IMSAFE

PAVE: Pilot (fitness/currency), Aircraft (condition/performance), VenVironment (wx, terrain, airspace), External pressures (client, schedule).

IMSAFE: Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion. If any are flagged, pause or adjust the plan.
4) In-Flight Model: 3-P → CARE → TEAM

3-P: Perceive hazards → Process risk → Perform the best option (then loop).
CARE: Consequences, Alternatives, Reality, External pressures.
TEAM: Transfer, Eliminate, Accept, Mitigate (choose your control).
5) The DECIDE Steps
1. Detect a change/hazard
2. Estimate need to react
3. Choose a course
4. Identify actions
5. Do the action
6. Evaluate result (loop)
6) Situational Awareness & Workload

Stay ahead of the aircraft: brief the plan, prioritize tasks, set personal minimums, and use all resources (checklists, automation, ATC/LAANC, visual observers).

Use It On Every Mission

Create written personal minimums and stick to them.
Brief PAVE/IMSAFE before client flights.
When conditions change, run 3-P → CARE → TEAM.
Debrief with DECIDE: what changed, what worked, what to refine.

FAA PHAK Ch. 2 (ADM) Risk Management Handbook

Source: FAA Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 2 (Aeronautical Decision-Making).