When we link decisions with actions we form the pathways of our flights. The process of choosing good pathways relies on developing the skill of option awareness. To make good decisions we must understand what our options are and know what our goals are. Usually our goal is to have a normal flight. A normal flight means that:
- We takeoff without incident.
- Fly around with the aircraft in control.
- Enter the circuit at height within the parameters set for a standard circuit.
- Land without incident, and safely move the aircraft off of the active runway.
When things start deviating from the norm, then the options we are assessing should have the goal of deciding to act to return to the normal state. When developing option awareness with our students we should strive to show which options best allow a return to the normal state.
There is hierarchy in option awareness that is dictated by the particular problems that arise. Students must first learn to assess whether or not the problem is with controlling the aircraft. This type is usually the highest priority as it is hard to effectively direct the path of an out of control aircraft. Next are the pre-circuit problems. By this I mean options that are taken that may lead to entering a circuit (normal or otherwise), but are not directly related to a circuit and landing. For instance, we may have the aircraft in control, but rain showers are approaching. We have several options that may include starting a normal circuit or staying flying. The circuit problems are a special case, because of the limitations of time and terrain. I include aborted takeoffs in this category (a very abbreviated circuit).
At the beginning stages of flight instruction the goals are preventative. They rely on teaching students to recognize that the situation is deviating from the norm, and then getting them to return to the normal state quickly. Later we will discuss option awareness from the perspective of more serious deviations from the normal flight profile.