16.hazardous-attitudes. Hazardous Attitudes
Aeronautical decision-making (ADM) is a systematic approach to the mental process used by pilots to consistently determine the best course of action in response to a given set of circumstances. Central to ADM is recognizing and managing the five hazardous attitudes identified by the FAA. These attitudes contribute to poor judgment and have been shown through accident analysis to precede a disproportionate share of pilot-error mishaps. Each pilot, regardless of experience level, can fall prey to one or more of these attitudes, and recognizing them in oneself is the first step in mitigating their effects.
The five hazardous attitudes are:
- Anti-Authority ("Don't tell me!") — This attitude is found in people who do not like anyone telling them what to do. They may regard rules, regulations, and procedures as unnecessary or as the imposition of someone else's judgment. They may be tempted to disregard ATC instructions, deviate from checklists, or ignore FARs.
- Impulsivity ("Do something — quickly!") — This is the attitude of pilots who frequently feel the need to do something — anything — immediately. They do not stop to think about what they are about to do; they do not select the best alternative; they do the first thing that comes to mind.
- Invulnerability ("It won't happen to me.") — Many people falsely believe that accidents happen to others, but never to them. Pilots who think this way are more likely to take chances and increase risk. They read about accidents but tell themselves the same thing could not happen to them.
- Macho ("I can do it.") — Pilots who are always trying to prove that they are better than anyone else take risks to impress others. While this pattern is thought to be a male characteristic, women are equally susceptible. Showing off, performing low passes, or attempting maneuvers beyond skill level are common manifestations.
- Resignation ("What's the use?") — Pilots who think, "What's the use?" do not see themselves as being able to make a great deal of difference in what happens to them. When things go well, they attribute it to good luck. When things go badly, they attribute it to bad luck or feel that someone is "out to get them." They leave the action to others, for better or worse, and may go along with unreasonable requests just to be a "nice guy."
Recognizing and Countering Hazardous Attitudes
Hazardous attitudes lead to poor decision-making and unsafe acts. To counter their effects, the pilot must first recognize that a hazardous attitude is present, then label the thought correctly, and finally state the corresponding antidote. The antidotes must be memorized so that they automatically come to mind when a hazardous thought is recognized.
| Hazardous Attitude | Antidote |
|---|---|
| Anti-Authority | "Follow the rules. They are usually right." |
| Impulsivity | "Not so fast. Think first." |
| Invulnerability | "It could happen to me." |
| Macho | "Taking chances is foolish." |
| Resignation | "I'm not helpless. I can make a difference." |
Example Application
Consider a private pilot on a cross-country flight who encounters a deteriorating ceiling and reduced visibility approaching the destination. The pilot is not instrument rated, the destination has a family event waiting, and weather at a nearby airport is VFR. A pilot caught in macho thinking might press on, telling themselves they can "scud run" through. Invulnerability whispers that midair terrain encounters happen to other pilots. Impulsivity drives a snap descent below the clouds. Anti-authority rationalizes busting Class E weather minimums. Resignation says, "I'm already this far, what can I do now?"
The correctly trained pilot recognizes the hazardous thought, applies the antidote, and uses a structured decision model — for example, the 3P model (Perceive, Process, Perform) or the DECIDE model (Detect, Estimate, Choose, Identify, Do, Evaluate) — to choose a safer course such as a 180° turn or a precautionary diversion to the nearest VFR airport.
Self-Assessment Tools
In addition to recognizing the five attitudes, pilots use self-assessment checklists to evaluate fitness and risk before and during flight:
- IMSAFE — Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion/Eating.
- PAVE — Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures.
- 5 P's — Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, Programming.
Used together, recognition of hazardous attitudes, application of antidotes, and disciplined use of these checklists form the core behavioral defense against pilot-error accidents and are emphasized throughout PHAK Chapter 16 as foundational ADM concepts.