Operational pitfalls
Operational pitfalls: classic behavioral traps as experience grows. Drivers: wish to complete flight as planned, please passengers, meet schedule. Any experienced pilot can fall prey (PHAK ch.2).
| Pitfall | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Peer pressure | Poor decisions from emotional response to peers, not objective assessment |
| Mindset | Inability to recognize and cope with a changing situation |
| Get-there-itis | Judgment skewed by destination fixation, disregarding other courses of action |
| Scud running | Chasing visual contact with terrain at low altitude while instrument conditions exist |
| Continuing VFR into instrument conditions | Risks spatial disorientation or terrain collision; worse if pilot not instrument rated or current |
| Getting behind the aircraft | Events control pilot, not the reverse; sign: constant surprise at what happens next |
| Loss of positional or situational awareness | Extreme getting behind; pilot does not know location or cannot recognize deteriorating conditions |
| Operating without adequate fuel reserves | Ignoring minimum fuel requirements; usually overconfidence, poor planning, or disregarding regulations |
| Flying outside the envelope | Trusting aircraft's performance to cover pilot's overestimated skill |
| Neglect of flight planning, preflight inspections, and checklists | Memory and habit replace published procedure |
References
- PHAK ch.2