An Overview of Hazardous Attitudes in Aviation
Pilots can be seen as highly motivated individuals, confident in the skills and abilities they have attained through the course of many hours in the air and on the ground. Though there is a lot of emphasis in the aviation community with regards to maintaining a healthy physiological state while flying, conversations about examining the attitudes of oneself can be a bit more challenging. The right attitude leads to right decisions being made that ensure flying is safe for everyone.
The FAA has identified mainly Five Hazardous Attitudes that negatively affect the safety of flight: Anti-authority, Impulsivity, Invulnerability, Macho, and Resignation. In a 2019 article published by Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, research highlighted the various accidents and incidents caused by thesehazardous attitudes between 1991-2018. It was discovered that 92% of aviation accidents were caused by anti-authority and 68% due to the attitude of invulnerability (Nuñez, López, Velazquez, Mora, Román, 2019, p.37).
When trying to examine and identify hazardous attitudes, it is important we know and understand the definitions associated with these attitudes:
- Anti-authority “Don’t tell me”
- Impulsivity “Do it quickly”
- Invulnerability “It won’t happen to me”
- Macho “I can do it”
- Resignation “What’s the use”
In the event that you are tempted to express one or more of these attitudes, remind yourself of the following antidotes:
- Anti-authority: Follow the rules. They are usually right.
- Impulsivity: Not so fast. Think first.
- Invulnerability: It could happen to me
- Macho: Taking chances is foolish.
- Resignation: I’m not helpless. I can make a difference
Chapter 2 in the Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, dives deeper into what these attitudes comprise of and how important it is to apply this concept in our risk management process. More resources can be found towards the end of this newsletter including an Accident Case Study by AOPA discussing a fatal accident caused by hazardous attitudes.
We as pilots are goal oriented, always looking for ways we can complete a flight or a task. But we need to consistently make to conscious effort to identify when we are falling prey to these hazardous attitudes. “Get-There-Itis” is a real thing and itcan be tempting for a pilot to continue giving into these attitudes, especially when it works in your favor. But there is no certainty that the next time you give in, that you will be able to get back in the air again.
Flying is a privilege and it has many risks associated with it. It is our responsibility to ensure proper care and attention is given when exercising the duties of Pilot-in-Command so we can continue to enjoy the freedom of flight.
References
Nuñez , B., López, C., Velazquez, J., Mora, O. A., & Román, K. (2019, July 5). Hazardous Attitudes in Us Part 121 Airline Accidents . CORE Scholar. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=isap_2019
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 2 Aeronautical Decision-Making https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/04_phak_ch2.pdf
Accident case study hazardous attitudes. AOPA. (2022, June 13). https://www.aopa.org/training-and-safety/online-learning/accident-case-studies/hazardous-attitudes
Let’s Go FLY,
Jonathan George