Pilot judgment: an operational viewpoint.

The process of decision making is poorly understood in our aviation environment. Accidents may demonstrate instances where incorrect decisions were made, but current investigative techniques do not necessarily give a clear understanding of why such decisions were made. The elements of the decision-making process need to be better understood so proper attention may be given to pilot training and developing operational procedures . A study of the Aviation Safety Reporting System data base was conducted to gain a better understanding of the actual operational impact of decision making.