FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2 and FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10

Aeronautical decision-making (ADM) explained

ADM is the FAA way of making safer choices before and during a flight. Here is the definition, the tools (CRM, IMSAFE, PAVE) and what the test expects you to know.

Part 107, explained › Operations · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.

What is aeronautical decision-making (ADM)?

ADM is a systematic approach to risk assessment and stress management. It gives a pilot a structured way to analyze changes during a flight and how they affect its safe outcome. For a remote pilot that means finding hazards, assessing risk, using every available resource, and deciding before launch rather than after trouble starts.

The FAA lists the steps for good decision-making: identify personal attitudes hazardous to safe flight, learn behavior modification techniques, learn to recognize and cope with stress, develop risk assessment skills, use all resources, and evaluate how well your ADM skills work (FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10). The Study Guide also says good judgment can be taught and is not just a by-product of experience.

Crew resource management (CRM) is the effective use of all available resources: human resources, hardware, and information (FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2). Even if you fly alone, many CRM concepts apply to single-pilot operations, which the Study Guide calls Single-Pilot Resource Management (FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10).

Two checklists turn ADM into habit. IMSAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion) tests whether you are ready to fly, and PAVE (Pilot-in-command, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures) sorts the risks of a flight into four categories (FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10). The five hazardous attitudes that corrupt decisions have their own page on this site.

Sources: FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2, Aeronautical Decision-Making · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, Aeronautical Decision-Making and Judgment · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, CRM and SRM · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, IMSAFE and PAVE

What the FAA says

FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2, Aeronautical Decision-Making

ADM is a systematic approach to risk assessment and stress management.

FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10

ADM provides a structured, systematic approach to analyzing changes that occur during a flight and how these changes might affect the safe outcome of a flight.

FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2, History of ADM

Crew resource management (CRM) training for flight crews is focused on the effective use of all available resources: human resources, hardware, and information supporting ADM

FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, CRM and SRM

SRM is defined as the art and science of managing all the resources available to a single pilot (prior to and during flight) to ensure the successful outcome of the flight.

Sources: FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2, Aeronautical Decision-Making · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10 · FAA-H-8083-25C, ch. 2, History of ADM · FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, CRM and SRM

Exam traps

  • Good judgment can be taught: the Study Guide rejects the idea that it is simply a natural by-product of experience.
  • Many CRM concepts apply to single-pilot operations; the single-pilot version is called Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM).
  • Stress is not on the list of medical conditions that require grounding, but the pilot should still consider the effects of stress on performance.
  • Risk decisions should be made by the person who can develop and implement the risk controls, and no unnecessary risk should be accepted.

Quick quiz: 3 questions

Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions. Each answer shows its FAA source.

Question 1 of 3

The effective use of all available resources-human, hardware, and information-prior to and during flight to ensure the successful outcome of the operation is called

  1. A Risk Management.
  2. B Safety Management System.
  3. C Crew Resource Management.
Show the answer
Answer: C. Crew Resource Management.

FAA source: FAA-H-8083-25C ch. 2, Aeronautical Decision-Making, History of ADM

Question 3 of 3

A local TV station has hired a remote pilot to operate their small UA to cover news stories. The remote pilot has had multiple near misses with obstacles on the ground and two small UAS accidents. What would be a solution for the news station to improve their operating safety culture?

  1. A The news station does not need to make any changes; there are times that an accident is unavoidable.
  2. B The news station should implement a policy of no more than five crashes/incidents within 6 months.
  3. C The news station should recognize hazardous attitudes and situations and develop standard operating procedures that emphasize safety.
Show the answer
Answer: C. The news station should recognize hazardous attitudes and situations and develop standard operating procedures that emphasize safety.

FAA sources: FAA-G-8082-22 ch. 10, Hazardous Attitudes and Antidotes · FAA-G-8082-22 ch. 10, External Pressures

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

A hazard is a real or perceived condition, event, or circumstance a pilot encounters. Risk is the pilot’s assessment of the single or cumulative hazard, so different pilots see the same hazard differently.

Source: FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, Hazard and Risk

What does IMSAFE stand for?

Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue and Emotion. The Study Guide calls it one of the best ways single pilots can mitigate risk, by checking physical and mental readiness for flying.

Source: FAA-G-8082-22, ch. 10, Mitigating Risk

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More on this topic: Part 107 operations and decision-making.