Flying Companion’s Guide to Help Manage Risk

Pilot pride can sometimes interfere with good judgment and good decisions, especially if pas­sengers are involved. Pilots don’t want to appear dumb. We don’t want to be (or appear to be) cow­ards. We don’t want to disappoint passengers who have agreed — some grudgingly — to put their lives in our hands. We don’t want to be (or appear to be) incapable, unable, or unworthy.

Flying companions can do a lot to help a proud pilot make the right decision. In this mitigation-focused section, we’ll start with the big picture and then look at several specific areas.

Take It Step by Step

Today’s pilot certification requirements include risk management. There are many practical risk management methods around, but PAVE is one of the easiest tools for hazard identification.

Pilot/People: This item reminds the pilot to review readiness for the flight in terms of total expe­rience, recent experience, proficiency, and legal requirements as well as physical and emotional con­dition. A pilot’s partner or friend can be especially helpful in this area, because who is better situated to know when something isn’t right?

Aircraft: This item addresses fuel/fuel reserves, mechanical condition, and aircraft performance for day-of-flight conditions. It includes the pilot’s level of experience in the type of aircraft, as well as assess­ment of the airplane’s suitability for the type of flight to be made.

enVironment: The V element covers things like airport and runway conditions, airport light­ing, terrain, obstacles, and airspace restrictions. It also includes weather. Some pilots are qualified to fly only under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), when the weather is good. But even a pilot qualified for Instru­ment Flight Rules (IFR) cannot, and should not, attempt to fly in all weather conditions. No GA air­plane can safely operate in thunderstorms or severe icing conditions.

External Pressures: Passengers eager for a trip and people waiting at the destination are External Pressures that can adversely impact pilot judgment. A flying companion can help by asking about PAVE hazards for this flight. It is also helpful to actively assist with plans for a possible delay or diversion. Passengers prepared for these eventualities make it much easier for the pilot to make a “no go” decision when conditions so require.

Build A Buffer Zone

One of the most useful things a pilot can do in aviation safety risk management is to develop per­sonal minimums. I think of personal minimums as the human factors equivalent of reserve fuel. Personal minimums serve a solid safety buffer between the skills and aircraft performance required for a specific flight, and the skills and aircraft performance available.

If your pilot doesn’t have written personal minimums, check out “Getting the Maximum from Personal Minimums” (May/June 2006 issue) and encourage him or her to build a personal safety buffer. Once that is in place, a flying companion can contribute by asking the pilot to verify that a pro­posed flight is consistent with personal minimums. Everybody wins. Personal minimums increase the passenger’s comfort and confidence while making it easier for the pilot to make sound decisions.

Just Say No

In addition to speaking up in the areas discussed above, a flying companion can just say no. Agree in advance that if any aspect of the flight is questionable, you will use the veto to request prompt diversion to a safe alternate destination. There will be plenty of time on the ground to review conditions, discuss options, and decide — together — on next steps that will keep everyone safe and ready to fly again.

For an expanded version of this article read “Voice of Reason,” in the July/August 2014 issue of FAA Safety Briefing, at bit.ly/2zneCDs. (FAA Safety Briefing MarApr 2018)