Aeronautical Decision-Making

for Helicopter Pilots

This is a thorough and detailed program of instruction in helicopter pilot judgment and decision-making. It was written by Transport Canada and the FAA as a joint effort to present an instruction program for dealing with the root cause of most helicopter accidents: poor decision-making by helicopter pilots. The book outlines the causes of helicopter accidents, and shows the pilot how common, everyday pilot attitudes are the cause of these accidents. The causes are not unexpected, nor unusual. Actual operational accidents and incidents are used as examples to explain the underlying principles. Most helicopter pilots are completely unaware that common, everyday attitudes can be the source of so much trouble. Chapter headings are:
  1. Instroduction to Decision Making
  2. Judgment Concepts
  3. Rotorcraft Risk Assessment
  4. Self-assessment of Hazardous Attitudes
  5. Reinforcement through Repitition
  6. Antidotes for Hazardous Attitudes
  7. Identifying & Reducing Stress
  8. Headwork
  9. Applying Decision Making Concepts
  10. Identifying "The Enemy"
  11. Summary & Appendices