Chapter 10: Aeronautical Decision-Making and Judgment  Contrary to popular opinion, good judgment can be taught. Tradition held that good judgment was a  natural by-product of experience, but as pilots continued to log accident-free flight hours, a  corresponding increase of good judgment was assumed. Building upon the foundation of conventional  decision-making, ADM enhances the process to decrease the probability of human error and increase  the probability of a safe flight. ADM provides a structured, systematic approach to analyzing changes  that occur during a flight and how these changes might affect the safe outcome of a flight. The ADM  process addresses all aspects of decision-making and identifies the steps involved in good decision- making. Steps for good decision-making are: The goal of risk management is to proactively identify  safety-related hazards and mitigate the associated  risks. Risk management is an important component of  ADM. When a pilot follows good decision-making  practices, the inherent risk in a flight is reduced or even  eliminated. The ability to make good decisions is based  upon direct or indirect experience and education. The  formal risk management decision-making process involves six steps as shown in  Figure 10-1. Consider automotive seat belt use. In just two decades,  seat belt use has become the norm, placing those who  do not wear seat belts outside the norm, but this group  may learn to wear a seat belt by either direct or  indirect experience. For example, a driver learns  through direct experience about the value of wearing a  seat belt when he or she is involved in a car accident  that leads to a personal injury. An indirect learning  experience occurs when a loved one is injured during a  car accident because he or she failed to wear a seat  belt. As you work through the ADM cycle, it is important to remember the four fundamental principles of  risk management.  Remote Pilot – Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Study Guide  52 1. Accept no unnecessary risk. Flying is not possible without risk, but unnecessary risk comes  without a corresponding return. 2. Make risk decisions at the appropriate level. Risk decisions should be made by the person  who can develop and implement risk controls.  3. Accept risk when benefits outweigh dangers (costs). Figure 10-1.  Risk management decision-making process. Risk Management  1. Identifying personal attitudes hazardous to safe flight.  2. Learning behavior modification techniques.  3. Learning how to recognize and cope with stress.  4. Developing risk assessment skills.  5. Using all resources.  6. Evaluating the effectiveness of one’s ADM skills. 