Airport Surface Deviation Safety Tip

Have you heard of “planning fallacy?” It's defined as a systematic tendency toward unrealistic optimism about the time it takes to complete projects.
 
Pilots often fall into planning fallacy with regard to airport surface operations, because they don't consider “Taxiing” a critical phase of flight and thus give it the time and attention it demands. It's usually thought of as the “Calm before the Storm,” or at the opposite end of the flight, the spool-down reflection period. But, in reality, it's one of the highest risk phases of flight.  Remember, flight time commences when an aircraft moves under its own power for the purpose of flight, and ends when the aircraft comes to rest after landing.  The time and preparation to safely conduct surface operations should be commensurate with its high degree of risk, requiring superior airmanship skills and constant vigilance.
 
Aviation operations should never suffer from “Planning Fallacy”, especially on airport surfaces where improper preflight planning, crew coordination, loss of situational awareness, or distractions can endanger so many persons and cause so much damage. Replace “Planning Fallacy” with a comprehensive “Planning Function” for all airport surface operations. 
 
SAFETY IS NO ACCIDENT