How can a pilot avoid controlled flight into terrain (CFIT)?

To avoid controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), continuous monitoring of altimeter settings and adherence to waypoints is essential. CFIT occurs when an airworthy aircraft, under the control of the pilot, inadvertently flies into the ground, mountains, or other obstacles.

Constantly checking the altimeter ensures that the pilot maintains awareness of their altitude relative to the terrain and can make necessary adjustments. This vigilance is crucial during approaches and descents, where terrain features may not be visible, especially in IFR conditions. Additionally, following predetermined waypoints helps maintain a safe flight path and can provide necessary guidance during navigation, reducing the risk of straying into hazardous areas.

While visual flight rules and reliance on GPS technology have their roles in flight safety, they do not effectively mitigate the risk of CFIT on their own. Visual flight rules, for instance, may not be applicable or safe in low visibility conditions often associated with IFR flying. Meanwhile, relying solely on GPS can lead to complacency, where a pilot might not remain fully aware of the surrounding terrain. Frequent manual altitude adjustments, while seemingly practical, could lead to misunderstandings of the terrain if not supplemented with proper altimeter monitoring and waypoint adherence. Therefore, the most comprehensive approach to preventing CFIT is through