ADM stands for which of the following?

• A. Aeronautical Decision-Making
• B. Automatic Dependent Surveillance
• C. Automatic Flight Control System
• D. Above Ground Level

Answer: (A)

Aeronautical Decision-Making is the process pilots use to identify hazards, assess risk, and choose safe actions. In the FAA ACS context, ADM involves staying aware of the situation, weighing options, and applying mitigations to reduce risk in real time. This makes it the best choice because it directly names the cognitive skill pilots rely on to make safe operational decisions under varying conditions.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance is a surveillance technology that determines an aircraft’s position and shares it with ATC; it isn’t about how pilots decide and act. Automatic Flight Control System refers to autopilot and related controls that manage the aircraft’s flight path, not the decision-making process. Above Ground Level is simply a height reference, not a decision-making concept.