A Guide to be the Sherlock Holmes of the skies

Ever been awestruck by how Sherlock Holmes catches these minute details in the midst of sheer panic and confusion?

While many of us think that this might be a superpower, something only “special” people possess, situational awareness can too be trained like a muscle.

There is a thin line between a pilot and a good pilot. And that line is often a good presence of mind : SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

WHAT IS SITUATIONAL AWARENESS?

The meaning of situational awareness is, in simple terms, being aware of what’s going on around you so you can anticipate things happening and take action, ideally before it happens. Decisions are made based on what the brain is processing and what your intuition is sensing.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO PILOTS?

Technology is the gift that scientists have given many industries, especially Aviation! While, it has proved it's multiple advantages, it often leads to complacency in pilots of today! Thinking proactively and understanding what to look out for can be the difference between life & death, safety & danger in every situation that a young or experienced pilot is faced with.

HOW CAN YOU PRACTICE IT?

Be mindful:

Mindfulness is a misunderstood term. When we hear “mindfulness” we picture a yogi sitting cross legged with his eyes shut. In reality, mindfulness can be practiced in day to day life, every moment of our day. Mindfulness is simply knowing what you are doing right now. Ask yourself, what task am I doing right now? Am I supposed to be doing something else? Am I 100% devoted to this task that I am doing? Being aware of your actions can be all it takes for you to be situationally aware!

Limit distractions:

We, as a race are in the midst of such an evolutionary era. We have never had so many choices, so much variety. There is never a chance to be bored because of these options. But these options, often technology, strip us of attention.

On the flip side, being overly fixated on one subject can be distracting too. When you focus on one thing so hard that you are too distracted to identify potential threats around you, that is referred to as “focus lock.”

Identify Objects Around You :

Whenever you enter a new place, take a moment to come to the present, look around and identify objects around you. This exercise can be applied to other things as well. Stop from time to time to ask yourself “Am I present?”

Be aware of what should be normal in your situation :

Human beings are excellent at creating patterns. Establish patterns of people, environments & technology so that you can be quick to identify any action/ situation out of the ordinary.

Use your peripheral vision to identify threats:

Contrary to popular belief, the human eye can focus on only one object at any given point of time. However, we have been gifted with a peripheral vision which allows us to gauge potential threats from the corner of our eyes. Peripheral vision might seem useless but is a great way to identify threats

Identify and gauge the danger of elements around you :

Often our environment already has unidentified potential hazards which can easily turn dangerous or even fatal. Be sure to identify these hazards and keep them in your peripheral vision at all times.

Use your imagination to plan for different situations :

Have you heard the saying “Plan for the worse and hope for the best” ? As an aviator, it is never a bad idea to keep asking yourself what action would you take in different scenarios. Imagining these situations often will keep you well prepared in dangerous situations when you have lesser decision making time.

Don’t let fatigue set in:

Fatigue makes it extremely difficult to remain attentive and focused. When you’re hungry, dehydrated or tired you grow distracted. Prioritise sleep, exercise and a healthy lifestyle to avoid fatigue to set in and take rest when you feel fatigued.