Tell Me About a Time (TMAT): Helicopter Interview Questions — Part 7
TMAT Question: Tell me about a time when you did not follow policy.
Situation
We received an urgent distress alert for mariners approximately 200 nautical miles offshore, with a credible opportunity to save lives if we launched quickly. The departure airfield was low IFR and with weather below approach minimums, a departure alternate was required. However, the only airfields above minimums were located across a coastal mountain range.
Task
My responsibility, as the aircraft commander, was to maximize the probability of a successful rescue while maintaining safety of flight, which required balancing policy compliance, aircraft performance, operational risk, and the urgency of the case.
Action
Under standard policy, we were required to demonstrate the ability to proceed to the departure alternate on a single engine. With the fuel required for a 200-mile offshore mission, we did not have that single-engine performance margin at launch.
We were faced with two options:
- Depart VFR in marginal visibility—approximately one-quarter to one-half statute mile—and remain within the letter of the policy, or
- Depart IFR without a policy-compliant alternate, supported by a conservative risk-mitigation plan. Specifically, we had the ability to jettison fuel after departure, which would restore single-engine performance capability to the alternate in the event of an engine failure.
After a quick crew discussion, we assessed that departing VFR in extremely limited visibility introduced greater immediate risk—particularly with terrain and obstacles—than an IFR departure supported by a clearly defined contingency plan.
Because this departure scenario deviated from standard policy, we briefed our operational supervisor, presented our risk assessment and mitigation strategy, and requested a waiver to the departure alternate requirement. With supervisory approval, we executed the IFR departure and returned to full policy compliance as soon as conditions allowed.
Result
The launch was conducted safely, preserving the best opportunity to reach the mariners while maintaining a lower overall risk profile than the VFR option would have provided. Additionally, the mission reinforced several enduring lessons:
- Policy exists to support safety, not replace judgment.
- When a deviation is considered, it must be intentional, transparent, and approved at the appropriate level.
- Effective risk mitigation may, in rare cases, require a deviation in order to reduce overall risk rather than accept it.
- Crews should return to policy compliance as soon as possible and share lessons learned to inform future decision-making.
As a result of this experience, I approach complex operational decisions today with the same methodology—prioritizing safety of flight, seeking supervisory oversight when appropriate, and treating policy deviations as rare, deliberate, and accountable actions.
The Real Deal – Additional discretionary information
The foundation of this type of decision-making is disciplined initiative.
Departing with the fuel required for range and endurance—and jettisoning when mission demands or conditions warrant—is an option that is often underutilized in the Coast Guard H60 community.