What is a recommended method for a captain to fight complacency?

• A. Discuss systems, alternatives, fuel, and 'what if' scenarios
• B. Increase cruise speed to reduce time
• C. Rely solely on auto-pilot
• D. Limit preflight checks to save time

Answer: (A)

Maintaining vigilance and preventing drift into routine is achieved by actively engaging with the flight’s possibilities and planning for what could go wrong. Discussing systems, alternatives, fuel, and what-if scenarios keeps the captain and the crew mentally sharp, continually reassessing risk, and ensuring everyone understands how different choices affect the outcome. This approach reinforces awareness of potential failures, clarifies decision points, and builds a shared mental picture of contingencies, so when something unexpected occurs the team isn’t caught off guard. It also reinforces a leadership tone that values thorough briefing, cross-checks, and proactive risk management, which are central to effective crew resource management.

Increasing cruise speed to save time might feel like a shortcut, but it can raise risk without improving preparedness or resilience to problems. Relying solely on auto-pilot reduces hands-on engagement with the aircraft and can erode situational awareness, making complacency easier to slip in. Limiting preflight checks to save time is dangerous because those checks are foundational for identifying issues and confirming readiness; cutting them back undermines safety and the discipline needed to stay alert.