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AREONAUTICAL DECISION MAKING
FAA Part 107–focused study guide on Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM). This "Study Block" will break it down into digestible sections so you can study efficiently. I’ll include definitions, key principles, scenarios, and tips for the exam.
Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) is the systematic approach pilots use to assess risk, make decisions, and ensure safe operations during flight. For Part 107, ADM focuses on risk management and safety in remote pilot operations.
Key Point: ADM is not just about knowing the rules, it’s about applying judgment and managing risk during flight.
ADM is often described in Six Steps: Recognize a hazardous attitude or situation; Identify risks: weather, terrain, equipment, or human factors. 👉 Study these important details.
- Assess the risk: Consider the probability and severity of the hazard.
- Analyze alternatives: Evaluate different courses of action to reduce risk.
- Make a decision: Choose the safest option based on available information.
- Implement the decision: Execute the plan with proper control and monitoring.
- Evaluate the outcome: After the flight, review decisions to improve future safety.
5 HAZARDIOUS ATTITUDES
⭐️ The FAA identifies five hazardous attitudes that can negatively affect a pilot’s judgment and decision-making.
Anti-authority is the belief that rules don’t apply, leading to disregard for regulations. Impulsivity causes quick, unconsidered actions without evaluating consequences. Invulnerability is the false sense that accidents “won’t happen to me,” which reduces caution. Macho reflects a need to prove one’s skill or bravery through unnecessary risk-taking. Resignation is the feeling that one’s actions don’t matter, resulting in giving up control or responsibility. Recognizing and counteracting these attitudes is essential for maintaining safe and sound aeronautical decision-making under Part 107. 👉"These topics may make the difference between passing of failing the exam."
1. Anti-Authority: “Rules don’t apply to me.” Will not follow rules and regulations. The antidote is to comply with the rules.
2. Impulsivity: “Do it quickly, no time to think.” Won't take the time to make thoughtful decisions. The antidote think before acting and consider the consequences.
3. Invulnerability: “It won’t ever happen to me.” Accepts that accidents can happen to anyone. The antidote is to acknowledge your personal limitations and prioritize safety.
4. Macho: “I’ll prove I’m capable.” Will take unnecessary risks to prove a point or a skill level. The antidote is to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
5. Resignation: “What’s the point? I can’t do anything” The antidote to believe in one's ability to make a difference.
👉The Part 107 exam may ask you to identify a hazardous attitude and select the correct response.
P. A.V.E CHECKLIST
Pilots and Remote Pilots: Can use structured decision-making tools to make safer choices: PAVE Checklist
✅ P— PILOT (EMOTE PILOT IN COMMEND)
This focuses on YOU, the operator, and your ability to safely control the drone.
Key considerations:
- Physical health: Fatigue, illness, or any condition that reduces alertness or reaction time.
- Mental state: Stress, distractions, or anxiety.
- Experience and proficiency: Are you familiar with the UAS, its controls, and emergency procedures?
- Medication or substances: Prescription drugs, alcohol, or recreational drugs can impair judgment.
Examples:
- You just finished a 12-hour work shift—should you fly? No, fatigue impairs decision-making.
- You’re new to the drone model; consider reviewing the manual or practicing in a safe area first.
✅ A — AIRCRAFT (UAS)
This addresses the airworthiness and reliability of your drone.
Key considerations:
- Maintenance: Is the drone fully functional? Are motors, propellers, and sensors in good condition?
- Battery: Fully charged and capable of completing the planned flight safely.
- Firmware/software: Up-to-date to ensure performance and GPS accuracy.
- Equipment limitations: Weight, camera, flight time, obstacle avoidance systems.
Examples:
- A propeller is chipped—do not fly until it’s replaced.
- Firmware hasn’t been updated; could affect GPS and automated flight functions.
✅ V — ENVIRONMENT
This refers to external conditions where the flight occurs, both physical and regulatory.
Key considerations:
- Weather: Wind, precipitation, visibility, temperature extremes.
- Airspace: Controlled, restricted, or prohibited airspace; NOTAMs; temporary flight restrictions (TFRs).
- Terrain and obstacles: Trees, power lines, buildings, or other obstacles in the flight path.
- Local hazards: People, animals, vehicles, or public events nearby.
Examples:
- Flying over a construction site with high winds—consider delaying or relocating flight.
- Urban environment with many people—adjust altitude and maintain line-of-sight.
✅ E — EXTERNAL PRESSURES
This includes any external factors that could influence your decision-making and lead to risk-taking.
Key considerations:
- Time constraints: Deadlines, client expectations, or schedule pressure.
- Financial pressure: Job or contract obligations.
- Social pressure: Encouragement from others to fly despite unsafe conditions.
- Operational urgency: Pressure to capture footage or complete a survey despite weather or equipment issues.
IMSAFE PILOT FITNESS CHECKLIST
✅ THIS IS ON THE PART 107 EXAM - CONFIRMED
Test Tip: The FAA often creates questions where the pilot is distracted, worried, angry, upset, or under pressure. Those are usually testing Stress or Emotion in IMSAFE.
In aviation, IMSAFE is an acronym that pilots use before any flight to assess their physical and mental readiness. It helps aviators decide go or no-go safely by checking six key personal factors:
- ✅ I — ILLNESS: Are you sick or physically impaired?
- ✅ M — MEDICATION: Are you taking any drugs (prescription, OTC, recreational) that could affect performance?
- ✅ S — STRESS: Are you overly stressed from personal or professional issues?
- ✅ A — ALCOHOL: Have you consumed alcohol recently (or are you still impaired)?
- ✅ F — FATIGUE: Are you rested, or too tired to fly safely?
- ✅ E — EMOTIONS Are emotional factors (anger, grief, anxiety) likely to distract or impair you?
Pilots are encouraged to honestly evaluate each of these before every flight — it’s part of the FAA’s safety culture and is mentioned in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) as a simple yet powerful risk-reduction tool.
✅ This checklist I a safety mindset. Consistently using IMSAFE helps reduce human-factor accidents by ensuring that the pilot’s personal condition isn’t a risk factor during flight operations.
CREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
CRM is the effective use of all available resources, human, hardware, and information to safely and efficiently accomplish a flight mission. Originally developed for manned aviation, CRM principles are adapted for drone operations, especially when there is a team or support personnel (visual observers, clients, co-pilots).
Key Points: Even if you fly alone, you still apply CRM by managing yourself, your equipment, and external information effectively.
⭐️ EXTERNAL PRESSURES
- Enhance safety: Reduce errors and prevent accidents.
- Improve communication: Ensure clear and timely information exchange.
- Optimize decision-making: Use all available resources to make better judgments.
- Manage workload: Reduce stress and prevent overload.
⭐️ CRM (sUAS OPERATION
Even though Part 107 pilots often fly solo, CRM applies to:
- You (Remote Pilot in Command): Monitor fatigue, stress, and attention.
- Visual Observers (VOs): Help maintain line-of-sight and spot hazards.
- Clients/Team Members: May provide mission-specific information or act as safety observers.
Tip: Clearly define roles and responsibilities before the flight.
⭐️ EQUIPMENT RESOURCES
Drone, controller, batteries, sensors, and backup equipment.
- Flight planning tools, maps, NOTAMs, and weather apps.
Tip: Know your UAS capabilities and limitations. Backup batteries and fail-safes are part of resource management.
⭐️ INFORMATION RESOURCES
- Weather briefings, NOTAMs, airspace restrictions, TFRs.
- Flight logs, pre-flight checklists, and operational manuals.
Tip: Use all available information to anticipate hazards and make informed decisions.
⭐️ HUMAN FACTORS IN CRM
CRM emphasizes human limitations:
- Fatigue: Impairs judgment and reaction time.
- Stress: Can lead to impulsive decisions.
- Complacency: Overconfidence may lead to ignoring risks.
- Distractions: Phone, environment, or multitasking can reduce situational awareness.
✅ CRM TIPS FOR PART 107
CRM may appear as scenario-based questions asking how to use available resources to prevent or manage hazards.
Look for answers that emphasize: Effective communication
Clear roles and responsibilities. Using technology and human resources to make safe decisions. Maintaining situational awareness
Even “solo flights” require CRM thinking, you are your own crew. 😎👍
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk management is the process of identifying hazards, assessing their severity and likelihood, and implementing strategies to reduce or mitigate the risk.
Key Point: For Part 107, risk management ensures safe drone operations over people, property, and controlled airspace, while minimizing the chance of accidents.
FAA describes risk management as a continuous, step-by-step process. Here’s how it applies to drone operations:
Identify Hazards; A hazard is any condition that could cause harm or increase risk during a flight.
- Sources of hazards for a sUAS:
- Weather: high winds, precipitation, low visibility
- Obstacles: trees, power lines, buildings
- People or animals: potential injuries if drone crashes
- Airspace violations: flying into restricted or controlled areas
- Equipment failure: battery depletion, motor failure, GPS errors. Example: Flying near a stadium with spectators, hazard = potential injury to people.
⭐️ ASSESS THE RISK
Risk has two main components:
Probability (likelihood): How likely is it that the hazard will cause an incident? Low, Medium, High
- Minor (no injuries), Major (property damage), Catastrophic (injury or death)
⭐️ MITIGATE THE RISK
Mitigation strategies reduce either the probability, the severity, or both. Common mitigation techniques for Part 107 operators:
- Avoid flying in adverse weather conditions.
- Maintain line-of-sight at all times.
- Stay clear of people and property.
- Pre-flight inspections and equipment checks.
- Develop emergency procedures for battery failure, loss of GPS, or signal interference. Example: Flying over a park with people: Risk: drone could fall and injure someone.
Mitigation: move to a vacant field, fly at lower altitude away from people, or choose a smaller drone.
⭐️ MAKE A DECISION
After identifying hazards, assessing risk, and applying mitigation:
- Decide whether to proceed, delay, or cancel the flight. Always prioritize safety over convenience or schedule pressures.
⭐️ EVALUATE
After the flight, review the operation: Were all hazards identified?
Did mitigation work? Could future risk be reduced further?
✅ TRICKY FAA PART 107 EXAM QUESTION!
A Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) conducts a pre-flight site survey for a planned nighttime operation and observes several bright ground lights that could interfere with maintaining visual line of sight (VLOS). What should the RPIC include in the flight plan?
A. Wear dark sunglasses during the operation to reduce glare from the lights.
B. Schedule the operation for a time when the ground lights are turned off or are less likely to interfere with the flight.
C. Position portable floodlights around the operating area to create daylight-like lighting conditions.
✅ Correct Answer: B
Explanation
A thorough pre-flight site survey includes identifying hazards that could affect the safe operation of the aircraft. Bright ground lights can reduce a remote pilot's ability to maintain visual line of sight, impair night vision, and create distracting glare.The safest risk mitigation is to plan the operation when those lighting hazards are minimized or eliminated. Adjusting the flight schedule to avoid the hazard is an example of effective aeronautical decision-making and proper risk management.
FAA Tip: Evaluating flights improves ADM skills over time, making future flights safer.