What are indicators of degraded situational awareness?

Degraded situational awareness occurs when a crew member, or the crew as a whole, lacks a comprehensive understanding of their operational environment and the factors impacting their mission. This can manifest as incomplete information, leading to misunderstandings or confusion among crew members. When awareness of the surrounding conditions is not maintained, it significantly hampers decision-making and overall safety.

The presence of incomplete information indicates that critical data necessary for situational understanding is missing, which can lead to misinterpretation of what is happening in the environment. Confusion among crew members arises when communication is ineffective, resulting in a shared lack of understanding of current circumstances and roles. Failure to maintain awareness essentially means that crew members are not adequately monitoring external conditions, such as weather, other aircraft, or their operational objectives, which is crucial for safe and efficient flight operation.

In contrast, complete information and clarity, frequent briefings and clear communication, as well as timely decisions and effective workload management, are all indicators of good situational awareness. They reflect organized operations and understanding, ensuring that the crew is functioning at a high level of awareness rather than experiencing degradation.