In aviation, situational awareness is one of the most critical skills a pilot can develop. It's not just about flying the aircraft; it's about understanding everything happening around you—air traffic, weather changes, and even subtle environmental cues. In a recent Hillsboro Heli Academy podcast episode, our Helicopter Chief Instructor, Eric Doughtie, sat down with Private Lead CFI, Julian Oswald, and discussed the challenges and importance of building situational awareness, especially for student pilots.
Here's what was covered:
1. The Importance of Situational Awareness
Situational awareness is a pilot's ability to understand and interpret everything happening in the environment during a flight. This includes being aware of other aircraft, weather conditions, radio communications, and potential hazards. Developing this skill is crucial for making informed decisions and ensuring flight safety.
New pilots often struggle with this because they’re focused on controlling the aircraft and following procedures. As they gain experience, their ability to process additional information improves, helping them make quicker, safer decisions.
2. Why Situational Awareness Is Hard to Teach
Teaching situational awareness is challenging because it involves interpreting multiple sources of information simultaneously. It’s not just a skill you can learn from a book; it requires practice and experience. Instructors at Hillsboro Heli Academy encourage students to pay attention to their surroundings from day one, even when walking around the airport. The goal is to develop a habit of constantly observing and interpreting their environment, which translates into better situational awareness in the cockpit.
3. Developing the 'Big Picture' Mindset
A key part of situational awareness is having a "big picture" mindset. Pilots must not only focus on their aircraft but also consider what is happening in the airspace around them. This includes tracking the movements of other aircraft, assessing weather patterns, and listening to radio communications to predict potential changes. By expanding their focus, pilots can anticipate issues before they arise and make proactive decisions.
For instance, during takeoff, a pilot should be aware of other planes in the pattern, changes in wind conditions, and the overall traffic flow. This broader understanding helps them react swiftly to unexpected situations, such as an aircraft suddenly appearing on their flight path.
4. Using Tools and Resources to Enhance Awareness
In addition to visual observation, pilots have various tools at their disposal to enhance situational awareness. This includes GPS, radio communication, and traffic collision avoidance systems. Our instructors emphasize the importance of using these tools effectively. For example, listening to radio calls can provide insights into other aircraft's locations, while checking GPS helps verify their own position relative to nearby traffic.
However, it’s not just about having these tools but knowing how to interpret and apply the information they provide. Pilots are trained to filter through the data, focusing on what is most relevant to their current flight situation.
5. The Learning Curve: Building Awareness Over Time
Situational awareness is a skill that improves with experience. In the early stages of training, students often feel overwhelmed as they try to absorb everything happening around them. This "time compression" can make flights feel rushed, and students might miss key details. Over time, as students gain familiarity with the aircraft and procedures, their ability to process more information increases.
Our instructors highlight that this progression is normal and expected. By consistently practicing and gradually increasing their workload, students build the mental capacity to maintain awareness of a broader range of factors during flight.
6. Instructor Expectations and Assessments
At Hillsboro Heli Academy, we have specific benchmarks for assessing situational awareness in our students, especially during stage checks. By the time a student is ready for a commercial license, we expect them to have a strong grasp of their surroundings. This includes understanding traffic patterns, anticipating potential conflicts, and making informed decisions based on real-time information.
For example, before departure, a student should be able to identify the number of aircraft in the vicinity, understand their intentions based on radio calls, and anticipate how this might affect their own takeoff. Instructors use these assessments to gauge how well students have developed their situational awareness and provide feedback for further improvement.
7. Applying Situational Awareness Beyond Training
The skills learned during flight training go far beyond the confines of the airport. We encourage our students to practice situational awareness in everyday life—whether driving a car, walking through a crowded area, or engaging in any activity that requires multitasking. This helps solidify the habit of staying alert and aware, making it second nature when they step into the cockpit.
Pilots who master situational awareness are better equipped to handle complex scenarios, both during their training and throughout their careers. This ability to "see the bigger picture" and react swiftly to changing conditions is what sets exceptional pilots apart.
Wrapping Up
Situational awareness is a cornerstone of safe and effective flying. It’s a skill that takes time to develop, but with practice and experience, pilots can hone their ability to interpret the environment and make informed decisions. At Hillsboro Heli Academy, we emphasize this aspect of training to ensure our graduates are not only skilled aviators but also proactive and aware pilots ready to handle the complexities of real-world flying.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we incorporate situational awareness training into our programs, we invite you to reach out to our admissions team. We’d be happy to answer any questions and help you get started on your journey to becoming a proficient and confident pilot.