To maintain situational awareness, an accurate  perception must be attained of how the pilot, balloon,  environment, and operation combine to affect the flight. Situation RISK ELEMENTS Environment Aircraft Pilot Operation Factors, such as weather and  airport conditions, must be  examined. The balloon performance,  limitations, equipment, and  airworthiness must be deter-  mined. The purpose of the flight is a  factor which influences the  pilot’s decision on undertaking  or continuing the flight. The pilot’s fitness to fly must  be evaluated including com- petency in the balloon, currency,  and flight experience. Figure 1-4. Risk elements. Figure 1-8.  When situationally aware, a pilot has an overview of the total operation and is not fixated on one perceived significant  factor. distance. During an afternoon flight with an indefinite  ceiling, slight precipitation and the rumble of thunder  is encountered. Should the pilot stay aloft, trusting  the weather briefing’s assertion that “there is no  precipitation in the area,” or land at the first available  site as soon as possible?  because of their base of experience, but newer pilots can  compensate for lack of experience with the appropriate  fundamental core competencies acquired during initial  and recurrent flight training. SRM training helps the pilot  maintain situational awareness, which enables the pilot  to assess and manage risk and make accurate and timely  decisions. To maintain situational awareness, all of the skills  involved in ADM are used.  Understanding the decision-making process provides a  foundation for developing the necessary ADM skills. Some  situations, such as an extinguished pilot light, require an  immediate response using established procedures. While  pilots are well trained to react to emergencies, they are not  as prepared to make decisions that require a more reflective  response. The ability to examine any changes that occur  during a flight, gather information, and assess risk before  reaching a decision constitutes the steps of the decision- making process.  Situational awareness is the accurate perception and  understanding of all the factors and conditions within the four  fundamental risk elements that affect safety before, during,  and after the flight. To maintain situational awareness, a  pilot needs to understand the relative significance of these  factors and their future impact on the flight. When a pilot  is situationally aware, he or she has an overview of the  total operation. Some obstacles to maintaining situational awareness include  (but are not limited to) fatigue, stress, and work overload;  complacency; and classic behavioral traps such as the  drive to meet or exceed flight goals. Situational awareness  depends on the ability to switch rapidly between a number of  different, and possibly competing, information sources and  tasks while maintaining a collective view of the environment.  Experienced pilots are better able to interpret a situation  After the problem has been identified, the pilot must evaluate  the need to react to it and determine the actions that need  Problem definition is the first step in the decision-making  process. Defining the problem begins with recognizing a  change has occurred or an expected change did not occur.  A problem is perceived first by the senses and then is  distinguished through insight and experience. This “gut”  reaction, coupled with an objective analysis of all available  information, determines the exact nature and severity of  the problem.  1-10 Choosing a Course of Action  Defining the Problem  Situational Awareness The Decision-Making Process  •  Operation—the interaction between the pilot, the  balloon, and the environment is greatly influenced  by the purpose of each flight operation. The pilot  must evaluate the three previous elements to decide  on the desirability of undertaking or continuing the  flight as planned. It is worth asking why the flight is  being made, how critical it is to maintain the original  intent, and if the continuation of the flight is worth  the risks?