Situational Awareness: How To Gain and Maintain It

Situational Awareness
How to gain and maintain it

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness
1. What is Situational Awareness ?
2. Gaining Situational Awareness
Gathering data
Understanding
Thinking ahead
3. Maintaining your Situational Awareness
4. Improving your Situational Awareness
Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 2 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

Why Situational Awareness ?
The most frequent causal factor of all accidents (41 percent) was
lack of positional awareness in the air. UK CAA Global Fatal Accident Review 1980 -1996
The second most common primary causal factor was lack of

positional awareness in the air, generally resulting in controlled
flight into terrain (CFIT).
Flight Safety Digest November 1998February 1999. Special FSF Report: Killers in Aviation:
Good airmanship requires pilots to have good situational

awareness; it is the basis for decision making and action.


Gathering data
Understanding
Thinking ahead

What is Situational Awareness ?
q The perception of elements in the environment,

within a volume of time and space,
q The comprehension of their meaning

and
q The projection of their status in the near future
What happened ?
Where am I ?
What is happening ?
What could happen ?

Elements of Situational Awareness
Informational Environmental Environmental

Influences Awareness Influences
System
Awareness
Crew Actions
Mode
Awareness &
Behaviours
Spatial
Orientation
Personal Organizational
Influences Influences
Time Horizon
Source : Aircrew Incident Reporting Scheme (AIRS) Model

Three Levels of Situational Awareness
1 We have to see and sense : PERCEIVE
2 We need to understand what was actually seen:

COMPREHEND
3 We have to use what we have understood to think ahead : PROJECT
3
Understanding the situation
Thinking ahead
triggers decision making,
Updating the model
action and review
2
Understanding
Comparison with
1 mental models
Scanning
Gathering data Feedback, check, monitor

Assessment of your Situational Awareness
q Seek and gather data (sensing)

q Combine data into meaningful information (perception)
q Understand what the information means (comprehension)
q Use your understanding to think ahead and reconsider the plan (projection)
Where do we
want to go?
How Can We
Improve Our Where Are We Now
Where have Situational

we been? Awareness ?
Situational awareness describes the pilots knowledge of what is

going on around him where he is, his orientation, what mode
the aircraft is in and what other people are doing

Gathering data
Understanding
Thinking ahead

Gathering data : What to look for and when
Build the mental model by :
- scanning the important aspects of our surroundings
- comparing them with experiences and knowledge in memory
Plane Control
Path Navigation
People Self and Others
Manage System and Situation
Situational
Awareness
Now Future
Plane
Path
People
Evaluate all aspects Plane, Path, People

Gathering data : Learning what to see
What to search for driven by the need for the information
When to look at specific information, phase of flight or event timing
Where the information can be found, source and reliability
Why the information is relevant to the circumstances
Know whats important and why

Having more data doesnt mean more information
Manage the task of scanning
Balance scan time with quality of information
Use procedure-based scans
Avoid interruptions
Dont rush

Gathering data : Failing to see
q Actively seek new data, use alternative sources

where data are not available or difficult to detect
q Scanning and observing require discipline
q Be aware of visual illusions (senses to pick-up gs - !!??)
q Do not expect to see something
Sometimes you see only half of the picture

but need all of it to understand the situation

Understanding - Creating the mental model
Mental models are formed by :
q The combination of knowledge and experience recalled

from memory, and
q The perceived information from the real world
Memory Recall
Training
Knowledge
Experiences

Understanding - Creating the mental model
Mental models are formed by :
q The combination of knowledge and experience recalled

from memory and
q The perceived information from the real world
Real World Searching
Plane, Path, People

What, When, Where,
Why

Understanding Comparison and Analysis
q Compare and update our mental models with the real world
q When matching, understanding of the situation is achieved
Internal attention External attention
Memory Mental Real World

Recall Model Searching
Training Plane, Path, People

Knowledge What, When, Where,
Experiences Why
Understanding
of the situation

When Understanding : Organize! Control your
thinking!
Understanding improves with experience :
more memory situations (patterns and associations) developed for comparisons
q Check all aspects of the mental model
q How does the situation compare with the plan
q How does the situation compare with previous situations
WATCH IT !
Most frequent Situational Awareness errors

(1/3) occur in situations where the information existed
but was left unattended, usually
because of distraction

When NOT Understanding : Watch Out !
q Information may be misinterpreted : Poor mental model
q Failure to recognize the mental model needs to change
q Control thinking process
Question yourself, monitor yourself, be aware of your own situation
Do Not Assume. CHECK !

Thinking Ahead Projection
An accurate understanding of the situation is essential for planning ahead
q Stay ahead of the airplane :
Anticipating is projecting the current

situation into the future
Standard procedures allow you to

anticipate what other crew members will do
in a given situation
q Planning :
All crew members build their situation

awareness on common planning
Thinking ahead prepares for decision making

Situational Awareness & Decision Making
Think Ahead
Understand
Anticipated
Perceive Result
Planned
Action
Goal Action Result
Feedback
Decision Making Loop

Thinking Ahead in practice
q Set time or place markers for rechecking the situation
q Confirm that the future situation agrees with the plan
q Set priorities regarding the current situation
Rules
Standard Procedures
q Set priorities for thinking 1000 ft: Speed < Vref + 20
Workload Check height, flight path, configuration
Attention Next: 500 ft, wind / tailwind check

Task
500 ft: Speed < Vref + 20
Check height, flight path
Next: Threshold, < Vref +15
Threshold: < Vref + 15, height 50 ft

Next: touchdown speed
and position

Failing to Think Ahead What If ?
q Consider contingencies
q Manage awareness of other crewmembers
Recognize typical threat scenarios:

Rushed briefings and checklists
Rapidly changing weather
Last leg of the day
Runway change
Unstable approach


Gathering data
Understanding
Thinking ahead

Maintaining Situational Awareness
Monitor, Focus and Direct your Attention

Scan: Plane, Path, People = 3Ps
Anticipate, Stay Ahead of the Airplane

Consider what if
Focus on the right information at the right time
Keeping the priorities straight is a constant challenge
What don't we know that we need to know

What do they know that I need to know
What do I know that they need to know
What are we not paying attention to

Clues to the loss of awareness
Losses in Situational Awareness may occur during
q Periods of high workload

q Periods of multi-tasking
q Preoccupation with other tasks
q Inadequate feedback from crewmembers
q Periods of stress
q Interactions with automated systems
DO Fly the aircraft:

Take over
Ask questions:
Change automation level
of your self
Go back to the last stable situation
of others Check navigation, speed, height
of the situation Plane, Path, People

Recovering Situational Awareness
The Golden Rules:
FLY NAVIGATE COMMUNICATE MANAGE

CRUISE
FUEL
F. USED
TOTAL 138 200
45 400 42 200 KGx1000 45 300 45 300
FF
2030 2030 2030 2030
KG/H
AIR
LDG ELEV AUTO 510 FT P 10.5 PSI
21 TO 24 CAB V/S FT/MIN

50
22 21 TO 23
OVHT CAB ALT 3500 FT
22
TAT 51 C GWCG 37.5 %

SAT 36 C 23 H 56 GW 370 000 KG
ISA +5 FOB 30 000 KG
S F M Active CTL: OAKLAND KZAK
MAX SPD VLE =200 KTS S
G
-/-
3
RECALL
REQUEST
EMERG
q Go to the nearest safe, simple and stable situation; follow procedures

q Assess the current situation with different data
q Go back to the last thing you were sure of
q Avoid fixation on a past problem
q Take time to think

Recovering Situational Awareness
Pay attention to mode transitions
Mental resources Monitor and learn from them
to control
Situational Awareness
Mental effort Mental resources

to stay in control to control actions
of the aircraft


Gathering data
Understanding
Thinking ahead

Improving your Situational Awareness
Control your thinking
Preparation
Anticipation
Gathering and Checking
Knowledge
Behavior
Prepare and review

Notice and perceive
Understand and interpret
Project and think ahead
Communicate
Manage stress and workload
Know your boundaries how close to the edge of safety do you operate ?

Improving your Situational Awareness
Preflight planning is more than fuel and flight path. Visualize actions, consider all
Plan threats, know tasks required for each flight phase, distribute your workload evenly
Actively seek information from available reliable sources

Scan Clarify anything that seems ambiguous
Develop a systematic scanning pattern shifting your attention from the aircraft,
Pay Attention to the flight path, to the people around you, then back to the aircraft
Take time to consider the possibility of something going wrong

Anticipate Constantly ask yourself what if, and develop contingency plans
Manage interruptions and distractions

Remind Set yourself reminders for tasks that may become either forgotten or interrupted
Has your awareness become vague?

Communicate Communicate, refresh and confirm the information youve gathered
During and after flight, honestly assess your performance based on preflight
Evaluate planning, identify areas where you felt uncertain or confused

Relating theory to operation, the legacy of ESSAI:
Enhanced Safety through Situation Awareness Integration
in training
Situation Perceive Mitigate

Awareness
Comprehend Trap
Threat
Management Project Avoid

Summary :
Gain and Maintain Situational Awareness
Scan to seek information
Know what is important, when, and where to find it
Plane, Path, People 3Ps
Check understanding
Real world
Memory
Plan ahead
What if
Cross Check
Manage your attention
Fly, Navigate, Communicate, Manage the situation

then decide !

Situational Awareness: How To Gain and Maintain It

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Situational Awareness

How to gain and maintain it

1. What is Situational Awareness ?

2. Gaining Situational Awareness

3. Maintaining your Situational Awareness

4. Improving your Situational Awareness

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 2 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

The second most common primary causal factor was lack of

Good airmanship requires pilots to have good situational

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 3 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

1. What is Situational Awareness ?

2. Gaining Situational Awareness

3. Maintaining your Situational Awareness

4. Improving your Situational Awareness

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 4 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q The perception of elements in the environment,

q The comprehension of their meaning

q The projection of their status in the near future

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 5 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

Informational Environmental Environmental

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 6 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

2 We need to understand what was actually seen:

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 7 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q Seek and gather data (sensing)

Where have Situational

Situational awareness describes the pilots knowledge of what is

1. What is Situational Awareness ?

2. Gaining Situational Awareness

3. Maintaining your Situational Awareness

4. Improving your Situational Awareness

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 9 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

Evaluate all aspects Plane, Path, People

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 10 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

When to look at specific information, phase of flight or event timing

Where the information can be found, source and reliability

Why the information is relevant to the circumstances

Know whats important and why

Manage the task of scanning

Balance scan time with quality of information

Use procedure-based scans

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 11 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q Actively seek new data, use alternative sources

q Scanning and observing require discipline

q Be aware of visual illusions (senses to pick-up gs - !!??)

q Do not expect to see something

Sometimes you see only half of the picture

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 12 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q The combination of knowledge and experience recalled

q The perceived information from the real world

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 13 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q The combination of knowledge and experience recalled

q The perceived information from the real world

Real World Searching

Plane, Path, People

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 14 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q When matching, understanding of the situation is achieved

Internal attention External attention

Memory Mental Real World

Training Plane, Path, People

Gaining and Maintaining Situational Awareness Page 15 1.HP_02_Vis_SA

q Check all aspects of the mental model

q How does the situation compare with the plan

q How does the situation compare with previous situations