RE: Self Assessment

Bauer, Kenneth, MAJ, XOOT (bauerk_at_pentagon.af.mil)
Mon, 22 Feb 1999 06:14:26 -0500


Teri,
Been too busy to stay up with the regular conversations of the
group, but yours caught my eye. You are correct that for safety reasons
individuals with major problems should take themselves off of the flying
schedule. I believe that this falls under the current Operational Risk
Management as well as CRM. The pressure to get the numbers up should not
override safety or common sense. It is good to see that there are
professionals fighting the good fight. Keep up the good work and let me
know if I can be of assistance.
V/R Maj Ken Bauer AF/XOOT
DSN 224-7162 Com (703) 614-7162

> ----------
> From: TLPoulton_at_aol.com[SMTP:TLPoulton_at_aol.com]
> Reply To: crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu
> Sent: Saturday, February 20, 1999 11:04 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
>