THREAT & ERROR MANAGEMENT (TEM)

THREAT & ERROR MANAGEMENT (TEM)

  • Assumes that pilots naturally make mistakes and encounter risky situations during flight.

  • Focuses on teaching pilots to manage threats and errors to maintain safety.

  • Involves planning and thinking ahead to predict and mitigate potential errors and threats.

  • ·Enhances safety by recognizing hazards before they escalate.

    SEVERAL COMMON THREATS CAN IMPACT SAFETY AND OPERATIONS

    1. Weather-Related Threats

  • Turbulence: Sudden and unpredictable air movements that can affect aircraft stability.

  • Thunderstorms: Severe weather conditions that can cause turbulence, lightning strikes, and hail damage.

  • Icing: Accumulation of ice on aircraft surfaces, which can affect aerodynamics and engine performance.

    2. Human Factors

  • ·Fatigue: Pilots and crew members experiencing fatigue can lead to decreased alertness and performance.

  • ·Distraction: External or internal distractions can divert attention from critical tasks.

  • Communication Breakdowns: Miscommunication between crew members or with air traffic control (ATC) can lead to errors.

    3. Technical and Mechanical Issues

  • System Failures: Malfunctions in critical systems such as navigation, communication, or engine systems.

  • Maintenance Errors: Mistakes during maintenance procedures that can affect aircraft safety.

    4. Security Threats

  • Unruly Passengers: Passengers causing disturbances that can affect flight safety.

    5. Operational Threats

  • Airspace Congestion: High traffic volumes leading to potential conflicts and delays.

  • Runway Incursions: Unauthorized presence of aircraft, vehicles, or people on the runway.

    6. Environmental Threats

  • Bird Strikes: Collisions with birds that can damage aircraft.

  • ·Other Wildlife: Animals on or near runways posing collision risks.

    ERRORS CAN OCCUR AT VARIOUS STAGES OF FLIGHT

  • Procedural Errors: Deviating from standard operating procedures (SOPs), such as skipping a checklist item or misinterpreting a flight plan.

  •  Communication Errors: Misunderstanding or miscommunicating with air traffic control (ATC) or other crew members, leading to incorrect actions.

  • Handling Errors: Incorrectly operating flight controls, such as over- or under-controlling the aircraft during takeoff, landing, or in-flight maneuvers.

  • Navigation Errors: Misreading navigation instruments or charts, leading to deviations from the intended flight path.

  • Decision-Making Errors: Making poor decisions under pressure, such as choosing an inappropriate altitude or route in response to weather conditions.

  • ·Automation Errors: Mismanaging or misunderstanding automated systems, such as autopilot or flight management systems.

    KEY TEM STRATEGIES

    DESIGNED TO HELP PILOTS ANTICIPATE, RECOGNISE, AND RECOVER FROM THREATS AND ERRORS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SAFETY:

    1. Anticipation

  • Verify own capability for safe flight by use of the IMSAFE checklist!

  • ·Pre-Flight Planning: Thoroughly reviewing weather reports, NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen), and flight plans to identify potential threats.

  • Briefings: Conducting pre-departure briefings with all others on board to discuss possible threats and how to handle them.

    2.    Recognition

  • ·Situational Awareness: Continuously monitoring the environment, aircraft systems, and other factors to detect any deviations or anomalies.

  • Cross-Checking: Verifying information with any other crew members and instruments to ensure accuracy.

    3. Recovery

  • ·Error Management: Implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to correct errors promptly. For example, using checklists to ensure all steps are followed correctly.

  • ·Decision-Making: Applying, if time permits, decision-making models such as “TAKE 5” to systematically address and resolve issues as they occur.

    4. Learning and Adaptation

  • Debriefing: After the flight, analysing what went well and what could be improved upon to learn from any errors or threats encountered.

  • Training: Regularly participating in training sessions and simulations to practice handling various scenarios.

    5. Communication

  • Clear Communication: Ensuring clear and concise communication within the cockpit and with ATC to avoid misunderstandings.

  • Standard Phraseology: Using standard aviation phraseology to minimize the risk of miscommunication. 

    FLY SAFE!

Tony Birth