The Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

The Operating Environment and Aircraft Performance

We face many threats in the operating environment, some of them are more challenging than others but, the environmental factors that presents the biggest threat are the ones affecting loss of control In-Flight.  

Even with meteorologists forecasting convective activity, frontal movements, jet streams, revolving storms and all the environment phenomena that occurs in our atmosphere we continue to have aircraft disasters in which the crew lost control on a routine flight. Recommendations are made after every accident and companies rely on solid training, threat recognition and management. However, based on a study conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) loss of control In-Flight accounted for 45% of all fatal accidents between 2011-2015. 

Having explored the hazardous environment I believe that each individual factors present an individual environmental threats that needs individual attention and understanding of the phenomena in order to act properly. 

Furthermore, I rather focus on the human performance for error mitigation which ultimately the outcome of any encounter with environmental threats is dependent upon the performance of the pilots in managing the disturbances or system degradations that ensue. This can be perform by practicing good Crew Resource Management and Error Management habits that must be develop in the early stages of aviation to avoid poor judgment and erroneous decision making.

This picture was from June 2014 when I served in the USAF during a training MedEvac mission with the Army. The dedication, preparation and training these pilots go thru are a clear example of CRM and human performance.