Remote pilots do not need an aviation medical certificate BUT they may not participate in a mission as Remote Pilot in Command, Visual Observer, or manipulator of the controls if they know or have reason to believe they have a physical or mental condition that would prevent safe execution of their duty.

Common factors that may affect a mission participant include ...

• Uncorrected vision deficiency

• Fatigue (acute, chronic)

• Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke

• Hypothermia

• Stress and hyperventilation

Sound decisions are at the heart of aviation safety.  The FAA defines aeronautical decision making as a continuous process, including pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight.

Key factors in aeronautical decision making are

• Noting changes that have (or haven't, but should have) occurred

• Knowing your biases

• Being honest about your abilities

• Setting and sticking to personal minimums based on your skills

• Resisting external pressure, such as saving money or time, get-there-itis, and fear of embarassment

• Have a Plan B (and C) and use it if needed

• Evaluate the outcome of your decisions and feed that back into your thinking

IMSAFE helps pilots assess their condition before flying

Illness - So you have any illness that might affect the flight.  Think carefully about the conditions under which the flight will be conducted.  For example, is it allergy season for you?

Medication - Are you taking a medication that could cause your concentration to lapse, or in other ways interfere with a safe flight?  What are the effects of that allergy pill you just took?

Stress - Be aware of pyschological stresses.  Are you worried about something?  Are you distracted, constantly thinking about something else?  If you can't focus on the flight, maybe you shouldn't fly.

Alcohol (& other such substances) - Just don't.  There are specific rules you need to know for the test, but if you're even thinking about measuring yourself against those rules, you probably shouldn't fly.

Fatigue - being tired - chronically or acutely - can affect your physical and mental abilities.  Get good sleep and avoid scheduling flights when you expect you'll be tired (how about those mid-afternoon doldrums?)

Eating / Emotion - This letter is used in 2 different ways.  Eat well so that you have the reserves to carry you through the flight.  And don't forget to stay hydrated.  Emotion is related to stress - are you in a good emotional state that will allow you to stay focused on flying? 

One model used is the 3-P Model:

Perceive - Gather all information relevant to the mission.  In particular, identify potential hazards.

Process the information from the perspective of flight safety and determine a best course of action.

Perform - Implement the best course of action.  The outcome becomes more information to be perceived, so the process is continuious.

The 5-P model is another approach:

Plan - weather, route, fuel

Plane - adequecy for mission

Pilot - proficiency, health

Passengers - involve, brief

Programming - plan ahead for avionics and other automation

The PAVE model is another flight risk assessment tool.

Pilot.  Start here - if you're not fit to fly, the mission is over.  Be careful to avoid get-there-itis, the excessive focus on getting to the destination or completing the mission right now, despite risks.

Aircraft.  Know your aircraft and be sure to do a pre-flight assessment.

enVironment.  Understand the environment in which you'll operate: weather, time, air traffic.

External pressures.  Be aware of and resist external pressures to conduct the mission in the face of high risks.  And avoid setting yourself up for this.  For example, planning to arrive at a location just in time for an important meeting.

The FAA highlights 5 hazardous attitudes, how they can get you into trouble, and how you can overcome them.  [I need to make this chart accessible]