You're faced with conflicting directions from air traffic control. How do you determine the best flight path?

1 Assess Safety

Your first priority is always safety. When you receive conflicting directions, assess the immediate risk to your aircraft and passengers. If one instruction puts you in potential danger, such as a collision course with another aircraft or terrain, it's imperative to communicate this to ATC immediately. Use your onboard instruments, such as the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), to help make informed decisions. Remember, the well-being of your passengers and crew is in your hands.

2 Verify Commands

Before taking action, ensure that you have correctly understood the ATC instructions. Miscommunication can occur due to various factors, including radio interference or human error. Read back the instructions to confirm that what you heard matches what was intended. If the conflict persists after clarification, ask for further explanation or a repeat of the commands. Clear understanding is the foundation of safe and effective decision-making in the air.

3 Prioritize Instructions

In aviation, certain commands take precedence over others. For example, a resolution advisory from TCAS, which advises pilots on how to avoid an imminent collision, should be followed over a vector from ATC. Know the hierarchy of instructions and which ones are non-negotiable. If ATC gives you a directive that conflicts with a more critical safety instruction, communicate this discrepancy to them promptly and clearly.

4 Utilize CRM

Crew Resource Management (CRM) is essential in addressing conflicts effectively. Engage with your co-pilot and crew to assess the situation and discuss the best course of action. Two heads are better than one, and your co-pilot may have insights or notice something you missed. CRM is not just about managing the human resources in the cockpit but also about leveraging all available information and support, including that from ATC.

5 Decide Quickly

Time is often of the essence when flying, and this is especially true when dealing with conflicting ATC instructions. Once you've assessed safety, verified commands, prioritized instructions, and utilized CRM, make a decision promptly. Delays can exacerbate the situation or lead to missed opportunities to correct course. Trust your training, instincts, and the information at hand to make the best decision swiftly.

6 Communicate Clearly

After deciding on the best flight path, communicate your actions clearly and concisely to ATC. Use standard aviation phraseology to minimize misunderstandings and ensure that everyone involved is aware of your intentions. Good communication is key to resolving conflicts and maintaining safety in the airspace. By informing ATC of your actions, you contribute to the overall situational awareness and help prevent further confusion.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?