Thanks for your incite. Please allow me to make a few other observations
about self-assessment.
I believe that one's ability to self assess his/her capabilities is probably
a function of experience, upbringing and motivation. For instance, I have
seen fighter pilots brought up in an environment where self "identification"
is a sign of weakness... those who do are "whiners." I have also seen
experience change their attitude significantly. I know of a couple
individuals who brought back severly crippled aircraft, and one who ejected
at a very low altitude. They seem to exhibit the same characteristics as
"Maverick" did when he thought about the loss of "Goose." The station wagon
in the parking lot with the car seat in the back is a motivating factor.
I have also talked to the same fighter pilots about establishing their
limits when assigned to the war in Desert Storm. Many suggested that their
personal limits were raised considerably when the opportunity for combat
flying presented itsself.
Another problem is the idea of false positive reenforcement. The same
student who told me that he had great self assessment capability, told me
that the proof was in the sucessful mission accomplishment. He was telling
me that successful return constituted a safe mission.
Sorry to ramble... thanks for the insight.
Jeff Hill
Delta Air Lines
-----Original Message-----
From: TLPoulton_at_aol.com [mailto:TLPoulton_at_aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 20, 1999 11:05 AM
To: crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu
Subject: Re: Self Assessment
Hello Everyone!
I agree that leadership by example can be a valuable tool in the early
stages
of training to develop the mindset that it IS acceptable to call "knock it
off" when life's stresses might make you a less effective crew member.
Other
crew members who observe a willingness to self-assess will be more
comfortable
making the same call in the future.
Within the last month, I have observed Air Force student pilots attempting
to
fly training sorties when serious domestic legal action was being filed
against one student and when the father of another student, only visiting
for
the weekend, ended up in the local emergency room with a heart problem. By
assuring students that it is perfectly acceptable to make known their
concerns, and that no repercussion will occur, I believe it fosters an
environment that encourages honest self-assessment.
Mission impact must be the biggest reason crew members don't come forward.
When a person decides that they should not fly on a given day, the
institution
should be able to say that, in the interest of safety, the correct decision
was made. Unfortunately, the ground-born stresses of flight cancellations
or
delays, mission completion and training timelines seem to pull us in the
opposite direction.
Have a nice weekend!
Teri Poulton-Consoldane
Capt, USAF
T-1A Instructor Pilot
Vance AFB, OK