Aeronautical decision making Flashcards
Why do we need to understand human factors?
✓We need to know how humans are affected during flight
✓How we process information
✓How we respond physiologically
Percentage of what causes accidents or incidents in flight
75% Human Factor
25% Other factors
Aeronautical Decision Making
✔Systematic Approach
✔Best course of action in any circumstances
✔Risk assessment
✔Stress management
✔Enhances safety
✔Good pilot judgment
Pilot Error
Accident caused by a decision or action made by the pilot
Chain of poor choices
The decision-making process
- Detect a change
- Estimate the need to react
- Choose a course of action
- Identify solutions
- Do the action
- Estimate the effect of the action
Situational awareness
- Solid mental picture of what is happening - For safety before, during, and after flight
Four Risk Elements
Pilot\
Aircraft
Environment
External Pressure
The Pilot
IMSAFE CHECKS am I fit to fly?
Illness
Medication
Stress - Acute and chronic
Alcohol
Fatigue - Acute and Chronic
Eating - right
Stress
– is the sum of all biological reactions to any adverse stimulus
– disturbs the “Body’s Natural Balance”
Acute Stress
involves an immediate threat that is perceived as danger
Chronic Stress
defined as a level of stress that presents an intolerable burden, exceeds the ability of an individual to cope, and causes individual performance to fall rapidly.
Types of Stressors
ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS
Stressors - Conditions associated with the environment - Temperature and humidity, Extreme noise, Vibration or a smelly seatmate
PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS
- Physical conditions
- Fatigue, Lack of physical fitness, Sleep loss, Missed meals and illnesses.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS
- Social or emotional factors
- death in the family, sick child or demotion at work
Fatigue and Sleep Deprivation
– Working
– Mental stress
– Jet lag/Sleep loss
– Active recreation
– Depression
– Boredom
Acute Fatigue
– is the kind of tiredness people feel after a period of strenuous effort, physical and mental strain, excitement, or lack of sleep.
Chronic Fatigue
– continuous high stress levels extending over a long period of time and usually has a psychological root.
The Aircraft
- Is this the right aircraft for the flight?
- Am I familiar with and current in this aircraft?
- Is this aircraft equipped for the flight?
- Does this aircraft have sufficient fuel capacity?
The Environment
Weather
- Ceiling and Visibility
- Ready for alternative plans or diversion
- wind strengths and crosswind components
- thunderstorm present or forecast
Terrain
- Obstacles, Safe altitudes on route
Airports
- NOTAMS
- Choose a flight route wisely
- frequency
Airspace
- Survival gear in the event of forced landing
- check airspace and any temporary flight restrictions (TFR) along the route of flight
The External Pressure
- The pilot does not want to disappoint the
passengers - Emotional pressures
- To demonstrate pilot qualifications; and
- The desire to impress someone (the two most dangerous words) “WATCH THIS”
5 Hazardous Attitude
1) ) Impulsivity - “Do it quickly”
Antidote: “Not so fast, think first”
2) Macho - “I can do it!”
Antidote: “Taking chances is foolish”
3) Anti-Authority - “Don’t tell me what to do”
Antidote: “follow the rules, they are usually right”
4) Invulnerability - “What is the worst that could happen?”
Antidote: “I’m not GOD, it could happen to me”
5) Resignation - “What’s the use?”
Antidote: “Don’t Give up, there is still a chance”
Workload Management
This degrades in two scenarios
✓Workload is too high
✓Workload is too low
Workload Management checklist
Increase workload at low activity times
C – COMPASS/HI check synchronized
L – LOG accomplished
E – ENGINE & ELECTRICS – normal
A – ALTITUDE check
R – RADIO set
O – ORIENTATION of map
F – FUEL check against time flown
F – FIELD for emergency landing selected
Goal of workload management
✔Planning
✔Prioritizing
✔Sequencing
- Organize the Cockpit
- Orientate Maps
- Radio Navigation
- Use Checklist
