The accident rate for helicopters has traditionally been higher than the accident rate of fixed-wing aircraft, probably due to the helicopter’s unique capabilities to fly and land in more diverse situations than fixed-wing aircraft and pilot attempts to fly the helicopter beyond the limits of his or her abilities or beyond the capabilities of the helicopter. With no significant improvement in helicopter accident rates for the last 20 years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has joined with various members of the helicopter community to improve the safety of helicopter operations.
According to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) statistics, approximately 80 percent of all aviation accidents are caused by pilot error, the human factor. Many of these accidents are the result of the failure of instructors to incorporate single-pilot resource management (SRM) and risk management into flight training instruction of aeronautical decision-making (ADM).
SRM is defined as the art of managing all the resources (both on board the aircraft and from outside sources) available to a pilot prior to and during flight to ensure a successful flight. When properly applied, SRM is a key component of ADM. Additional discussion includes integral topics such as the concepts of risk management, workload or task management, situational awareness, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) awareness, and automation management.
ADM is all about learning how to gather information, analyze it, and make decisions. It helps the pilot accurately assess and manage risk and make accurate and timely decisions. Although the flight is coordinated by a single person, the use of available resources, such as air traffic control (ATC) and flight service stations (FSS)/automated flight service stations (AFSS), replicates the principles of CRM.
The following sections examine the major elements of effective aeronautical decision-making, from personal risk assessment and workload management to situational awareness, CFIT prevention, and the use of automation.
Effective Aeronautical Decision-Making Series
1. Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)
Learn how pilots gather information, evaluate risks, and make sound flight decisions.
View Topic →2. Pilot Self-Assessment
Understand how to evaluate your physical condition, readiness, and personal limitations before flight.
View Topic →3. Single-Pilot Resource Management
Explore how pilots use available onboard and external resources to improve safety.
View Topic →4. Risk Management
Discover techniques for identifying, assessing, and reducing risks during helicopter operations.
View Topic →5. Workload or Task Management
Learn how to prioritize tasks and manage workload effectively during all phases of flight.
View Topic →6. Situational Awareness
Understand how to maintain awareness of the aircraft, environment, and flight conditions.
View Topic →7. Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) Awareness
Examine the causes of CFIT accidents and the procedures used to avoid them.
View Topic →8. Automation Management
Learn how to use cockpit automation safely without losing control or situational awareness.
View Topic →