Definition

In aviation, decision-making is the cognitive process of selecting a course of action from multiple alternatives.

Description

Decision-making generally has four components:

• Defining the problem
• Considering the options
• Selecting and implementing an option
• Reviewing the outcome.

Decision making is influenced by:

• Situational Awareness - a combination of availability of information and the ability of the decision maker to interpret the information (skills and professional knowledge)
• Experience - familiarity with similar, perhaps routine, situations.
• Social - social pressure, national and institutional culture.
• Situational limitations - Physiological & psychological pressures (stress, fatigue, hypoxia etc), time pressure

Related Articles

• Situational Awareness
• Stress
• Fatigue

Further Reading

Flight Safety Foundation

• Decision-Making (OGHFA BN)

CASA

• Safety Behaviours: Human Factors for Pilots

EGAST

• Decision Making for General Aviation Pilots, EGAST Safety Promotion Leaflet, April 2011;

Others

• FAA Advisory Circular (AC) AC 60-22 Aeronautical Decision Making