Controlling Pilot Error: Situational Awareness

Rating:
Summary: Like "Aftermath" or "I Learned About Flying From That"
Review: This is Volume 8 in a multi-volume series, all with the same format. That format is to take NTSB accident reports and NASA ASRS (Aviation Safety Reporting System) forms and use them to illustrate proper (and often improper) technique. The result is similar to the "Aftermath" and "I Learned About Flying From That" columns in aviation magazines, and is quite effective. This volume covers situational awareness, and is replete with examples of busting airspace, traffic conflicts, runway incursions, running out of fuel, getting lost and flying into adverse weather. The book uses the text of the NTSB report (for serious accidents) and then analyzes what went wrong in more detail, discussing both what went wrong and what should have been done. Numerous ASRS reports are analyzed in the same way, and it is easy to see how some of them could have become NTSB reports without some "luck" on the part of the pilots involved. Some of the incidents mentioned are ones I've never even thought of before, like what happens when the airport name changes but the change hasn't made it into the Airport/Facility directory yet? Yes, this situation has caused near midairs, and is well described by the pilot filing the ASRS! The only issue I have with the book is that the organization of the material is a little haphazard. Otherwise, this book (and the series in general) is an excellent example of how to use NASA's ASRS to advance aviation safety. And the price of the books is quite reasonable as well. Highly recommended.