• Take a pilot who is more experienced or who is certified as an instrument flight rules (IFR) pilot. 

• Delay the flight. 

• Cancel the flight. 

• Drive. 

## Resource Management 

Crew resource management (CRM) and single-pilot resource management (SRM) is the ability for the crew or pilot to manage all available resources effectively to ensure that the outcome of the flight is successful. In general aviation, SRM is more often than CRM. The focus of SRM is on the single- pilot operation. SRM integrates the following: 

• Situational Awareness 

• Human Resource Management 

• Task Management 

• Aeronautical Decision-making (ADM) 

Situational Awareness 

Situational awareness is the accurate perception of operational and environmental factors that affect the flight. It is a logical analysis based upon the airplane, external support, environment, and the pilot. It is awareness on what is happening in and around the flight. 

Human Resource Management 

Human Resource Management requires an effective use of all available resources: human, equipment, and information. 

Human resources include the essential personnel routinely working with the pilot to ensure safety of flight. These people include, but are not limited to: weather briefers, flight line personnel, maintenance personnel, crew members, pilots, and air traffic personnel. Pilots need to effectively communicate with these people. This is accomplished by using the key components of the communication process: inquiry, advocacy, and assertion. Pilots must recognize the need to seek enough information from these resources to make a valid decision. After the necessary information has been gathered, the pilot’s decision must be passed on to those concerned, such as air traffic controllers, crew members, and passengers. The pilot may have to request assistance from others and be assertive to safely resolve some situations. 

Equipment in many of today’s aircraft includes automated flight and navigation systems. These automatic systems, while providing relief from many routine cabin or cockpit tasks, present a different set of problems for pilots. The automation intended to reduce pilot workload essentially removes the pilot from the process of managing the aircraft, 

thereby reducing situational awareness and leading to complacency. Information from these systems needs to be continually monitored to ensure proper situational awareness. It is essential that pilots be aware not only of equipment capabilities, but also equipment limitations in order to manage those systems effectively and safely. 

Information workloads and automated systems, such as autopilots, need to be properly managed to ensure a safe flight. The pilot who effectively manages his or her workload completes as many of these tasks as early as possible to preclude the possibility of becoming overloaded by last minute changes and communication priorities in the later, more critical stages of the approach. Routine tasks delayed until the last minute can contribute to the pilot becoming overloaded and stressed, resulting in erosion of performance. By planning ahead, a pilot can effectively reduce workload during critical phases of flight. 

Task Management 

Pilots have a limited capacity for information. Once information flow exceeds the pilot’s ability to mentally process the information, any additional information becomes unattended or displaces other tasks and information already being processed. For example, do not become distracted and fixate on an instrument light failure. This unnecessary focus displaces capability and prevents the pilot’s ability to appreciate tasks of greater importance. 

Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM) 

Flying safely requires the effective integration of three separate sets of skills: stick-and rudder skills needed to control the airplane; skills related to proficient operation of aircraft systems; and ADM skills. The ADM process addresses all aspects of decision-making in the flight deck and identifies the steps involved in good decision-making. While the ADM process does not eliminate errors, it helps the pilot recognize errors and enables the pilot to manage the error to minimize its effects. These steps are: 

• Identifying personal attitudes hazardous to safe flight; 

• Learning behavior modification techniques; 

• Learning how to recognize and cope with stress; 

• Developing risk assessment skills; 

• Using all resources; and 

• Evaluating the effectiveness of one’s own personal ADM skills. 

## Ground Operations 

The airport ramp can be a complex environment with airport personnel, passengers, trucks and other vehicles, airplanes, 

