Good Aeronautical Decision Making: Why It Matters More Than Ever
Over the last few weeks, the general aviation community has seen far too many accidents — some fatal, some narrowly avoided — and all of them tragic reminders of how quickly things can go wrong in the air. As pilots, we tend to analyze accidents to learn what happened, but it’s equally important to reflect on our own habits and decision-making before we ever leave the ground.
Flying Smart: Not Just Flying Well
We all love flying — the challenge, the freedom, and the view from above that few people ever get to experience. But the reality is that flying safely takes more than just stick-and-rudder skill. It takes judgment. It takes discipline. And most importantly, it takes the willingness to say “not today” when something doesn’t feel right.
Good Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) isn’t about making the right decision every time — it’s about making the safe one, even if it’s inconvenient. That might mean scrubbing a flight because of marginal weather, delaying departure for maintenance, or cutting a trip short when fatigue starts to set in. These are the kinds of calls that never make the news — and that’s the point.
The Pressure to Go
We’ve all felt it: the subtle push to complete a flight because passengers are waiting, daylight is fading, or we’ve already driven out to the airport. External pressures are one of the biggest factors behind poor ADM. The key is recognizing when that “get-there-itis” starts whispering in your ear — and having a plan to shut it down.
One tool I use personally is a quick “GO/NO-GO” reflection before every flight:
G – Gut feeling: Does anything about this flight make me uneasy?
O – Outside factors: Am I feeling any pressure from passengers, weather, or schedule?
N – Necessary conditions: Are the aircraft, pilot, and environment all truly ready?
O – Options: If something goes wrong, do I have safe alternatives?
It only takes a minute, but it often saves me from taking off into a situation I’d regret later.
Fatigue, Currency, and Recency
Even when conditions are perfect, we might not be. Fatigue and lack of recent experience are major contributors to accidents, especially among weekend or part-time pilots. If you haven’t flown in a few weeks, consider a few pattern laps or a local refresher flight before tackling a cross-country. Your hands and brain need that warm-up.
As someone who works full-time and flies part-time, I’ve learned that there’s no shame in scaling back or delaying a flight after a long night shift. The airplane will still be there tomorrow — and so will you.
The “What-If” Mindset
Every flight should start with “what if.” What if I lose comms? What if the weather drops? What if the engine quits? Running those scenarios ahead of time means you’ll already have a plan when the unexpected happens. It’s not pessimism — it’s preparedness.
A Call to Our Community
Aviation has an incredible safety record when we follow procedures, respect our limits, and stay humble in the face of risk. But the moment we let complacency creep in, accidents start to happen — and lately, we’ve had too many reminders of that.
Let’s make it our collective goal to slow down, double-check, and make safety the highest priority every time we fly. Good ADM isn’t just about protecting yourself; it’s about protecting your passengers, your aircraft, and the reputation of general aviation as a whole.
Fly smart. Fly safe. Fly tomorrow.
Disclaimer
I am not a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI). The thoughts shared here are based on personal experience and general aviation practices, not formal instruction. Always verify information through official FAA sources and consult a qualified flight instructor before applying any procedures or recommendations to your own flying.