Situational Awareness

In aviation, situational awareness (SA) refers to a pilot’s constant and dynamic understanding of everything happening around their aircraft. It’s like having a mental picture of the “big picture” that goes beyond just the instruments.

SA has three key levels:

Perceive: This involves gathering information from all available sources – instruments, visual cues outside the cockpit, radio communications, and even crew briefings.
Comprehend: The pilot processes the gathered information, interpreting its meaning and potential impact on the flight. For example, a low fuel warning light triggers not just the awareness of low fuel, but also calculations about potential diversion airports.
Project: The final step is anticipating future developments based on the current situation. This allows pilots to plan ahead, make informed decisions, and react proactively to potential threats or changes in the flight plan.
Strong SA is vital for safe and efficient flying. It helps pilots avoid incidents like controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) or runway incursions. By maintaining a high level of SA, pilots can make sound decisions, respond effectively to emergencies, and ensure a smooth and safe flight for everyone onboard.

No Results Found

The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.

Aviation accidents

An aviation accident is an incident in which an aircraft is damaged or destroyed as a result of a collision, fire, structural failure, or other event. Aviation accidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including mechanical failure, pilot error, adverse weather conditions, and sabotage. Aviation accidents can result in fatalities, injuries, and damage to property. 

Aviation incidents

An aviation incident is an occurrence, other than an accident, that affects or could affect the safety of aircraft operations. Examples of aviation incidents include near collisions, runway incursions, and unruly passenger incidents.

Aviation serious incidents


A serious incident in aviation refers to an event that could have resulted in an accident or that had the potential to cause serious injury or death. Some examples of serious incidents in aviation include engine failure, in-flight fires, and loss of control of the aircraft.

You may like to select a different event category or to make a search for a specific report: