Balance Tasks
Summary With safety as our main goal, we need to ensure that we manage task demands, use our resources effectively and maintain situational awareness. Workload often builds up so insidiously that crew might not even realise they are being task saturated. It is important as crew to realise not only when to share some of your own workload but also to recognise when another crew member is becoming saturated. We should take advantage of the low workload periods in flight to prepare for the higher workload periods. We must be proactive when we feel rushed or overwhelmed. Slow the operation down by whatever means are available. Overcome the “complete the mission on time” syndrome and most importantly use your entire crew and all other available resources. In single pilot operations, workload management is crucial to the safe operation of the flight because one person must decide what is needed, where to get it and how and when to use it. A good pre departure self-brief, effective planning, prioritisation of tasks, use of automation if available and good communication with ATC; are all tools which can assist in managing workload.