Aviate, Navigate, Communicate

Aviate, navigate, communicate.  Those three words are the basis of handling emergencies in Naval Aviation (actually aviation in general probably).  So what do they mean, and how does that apply to preparedness?

Naval aviators are taught from day one that when something goes wrong in the airplane, you simply need to remember those three steps. (Sidebar: OK, there might be some memorized emergency procedures to execute immediately for critical emergencies such as an engine fire.  But even when those are being executed, you are still in the 'aviate' phase.)  These steps were written in blood as they say, from cases where a simple 'emergency' turned deadly because the pilot(s) got focused in on the emergency and forgot to fly the plane.

Aviate: Fly the plane.  Get the flight path under control and stable if at all possible.  Planes aren't cars in which you can simply pull over and stop.  They are always in motion, and there is a great big hazard waiting to reach out and grab you: the earth. In conflicts between the earth and airplanes, the earth usually wins.  In multi-piloted aircraft like the one I flew (or multiplace, like an F14 where the RIO is an integral part of the flightcrew) 'aviate' also means to assign duties and divide the load.  One pilot is designated to concentrate on flying, while the other handles the emergency. 

Navigate: Think about and control where the plane is going (ie, the future).  Avoid mother earth, like mountains.  Hit NEAREST on the GPS for the nearest airport, if you have that function.  A good pilot is always looking for a 'landing' site (subconsciously once you get some time in the log book): open, flat, clear of obstructions.  Point the nose toward that spot, or that nearest airport, highway, or if over water, the nearest ship.  Just like on an airliner when they remind you that the nearest exit may be behind you, the nearest airport/ship/landing spot may be behind you, and you should have been paying attention so you know that when bad things happen.

Communicate: Ask for help.  Talk with the crew.  Use procedures to handle the emergency.  Then discuss the emergency and go over 'what ifs' (secondary malfunctions).  Discuss the impact of the emergency: what systems have been lost, what capabilities are degraded, how will those things affect your landing?

So what in the Wide World of Sports does Aviate, Navigate, Communicate have to do with preparedness and survival you ask?  Crisis response and immediate actions.  When things happen, you don't necessarily have a lot of time available to figure out a plan.  Hopefully you have already thought through the event ('hangar flying' we called it, when you practiced and discussed emergency situations).  But Aviate, Navigate, Communicate apply equally well to land based 'situations'. Perhaps Stabilize, Act, Communicate?

Aviate: Stabilize the situation, try not to make it worse.  Focus on the most important things.  Immediate security, immediate action drill/response, take control of the situation.  Neutralize the threat, stop the bleeding, gather the family.

Navigate: Act. Point your nose toward the best path through the future.  Ideally, execute an immediate action plan that has been planned out and rehearsed in advance. City blows up like LA Riots?  Execute your Plan A (Home defense maybe, or bug out, or consolidate with family in a more secure location).  Gear up. 

Communicate: Issue orders, direct the team/family.  Contact others (warnings, alerts, preparatory orders).  Gather the extended team/community.  Reiterate Plan B (as in the next step of the plan, not that Plan A didn't work :)

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate.   Stabilize, Act, Communicate.  Be prepared, execute your plans.  THINK.