The Process
After two back-to-back difficult rescue cases that had mixed outcomes (in extreme rescue environments, often you can save some, but not all), our helicopter aircrews’ made challenging decisions onscene in a rapidly changing, dynamic and evolving environment. In both cases, there was obviously some outstanding work and, I am sure, a few things that each crew might do differently (ALWAYS the case in a complex, operational event). Regardless, good judgement and emergency action were both necessary to save lives. To ground and encourage the team I wrote:
“Foundational doctrine for our rescue pilots:
‘This Manual prescribes policy applicable to all aircraft operated by the Coast Guard. It can be used as a guide to mission planning and execution, as well as for the exercise of professional judgment by those in aviation and those whose programs require aviation support.
The Chapters and Appendices to this Manual provide guidance to manage aviation and are directive in nature. No provision of this Manual relieves personnel of their duty to use sound judgment, or to take such emergency action as the situation demands…
Successful operations require the exercise of sound leadership principles, good judgment, and common sense at all levels of command.’
I hope those words are empowering and humbling to our aviators. Because our organization recognizes that we cannot possibly write policy that covers every contingency and, as such, there are situations in which we must rely on our operators’ sound judgement and maturity, when necessary, operators are required to ‘take such emergency action as the situation demands,’ or put another way, exercise disciplined initiative (see OPI post #2). It is, therefore, incumbent on the operator to be worthy of this responsibility and constantly refine our understanding of the aircraft, mission, and crew.
The unattainable, but exceptionally worthy goal, is to gain a complete (!!!) understanding of the aircraft, mission, and crew. As I wrap up my second decade of a truly committed pursuit of that “complete understanding” (Complete = great in extent, degree, or amount as it possibly can be), I stated before that I will never get “there.” Every complex case, every in-depth conversation, every good question, I find something to review or learn and am reminded that I still have more work to do. Work on my own game, as an individual operator, and work on our team’s game (providing a thorough training program that provides the tools to empower you in your development and the development of others).
All we can ask of ourselves is to continue the pursuit. I want our aviators to sleep well on duty nights, knowing that they are chasing “complete” through our principles/components of OPI, and doing the hard work to develop a thorough, clear, and extensive understanding of the aircraft, mission, and crew. We need calm, present, and confident aviators making critical, on scene decisions. Harnessing policy and, when policy requires you to “take such emergency action as the situation demands,” use disciplined initiative anchored by our “why,” remaining aware of influences from our “not whys,” operating from a position of integrity – “sound leadership, good judgement, and maturity tempered with as complete an understanding of the aircraft mission and crew” as possible.”
Does your “game” need work right now? Mine too. Let’s continue to get after it and enjoy the process – Spiral up
