AVP 340 - Human Factors in Flight

Learner Outcome

Activity (optional)

Assessment

Upon successful completion of AVP 340 Human Factors in Flight, the student will be able to:

The student will:

1.   Summarize the major visual and auditory perceptual limitations that affect pilot performance, including:

* visual illusions for all phases of flight including black hole conditions, runway and terrain slope, runway dimensions and lighting, flat light and sector whiteout

* visual flight at night including hazards common to takeoff, cruise and approach/landing

* perception of controls and displays

* auditory misperception including role of ambiguity, nonstandard phraseology, party-line information, expectancy and readback/hearback problems

Participate in class and group discussions; answer questions from the class lecture notes, textbook, and other assigned readings; answer questions from midterm and final examinations; and, write a research safety article covering one of the human factors limitations discussed in class.

2.   Summarize the major cognitive limitations that affect pilot performance, including:

* Attention, vigilance, and mental workload

* Working and long term memory

* Situational awareness

* Aeronautical decision making/judgement

* Hazardous attitudes: anti-authority, resignation, macho, invulnerability, impulsivity

* Decision biases: availability, gambler’s fallacy, ability, optimistic, anchoring and adjustment, framing, confirmation, overconfidence, entrapment, and hindsight biases

* The human operator-automation/technology interface

Participate in class and group discussions; answer questions from the class lecture notes, textbook, and other assigned readings; answer questions from midterm and final examinations; and, write a research safety article covering one of the human factors limitations discussed in class.

3.   Provide examples of how perceptual and cognitive limitations exhibited by flight crew were contributory to aircraft accidents and/or incidents and identify strategies necessary to avoid or effectively manage these limitations in flight. 

Participate in class and group discussions; answer questions from the class lecture notes, textbook, and other assigned readings; answer questions from midterm and final examinations; and, write a research safety article covering one of the human factors limitations discussed in class.

4.   Identify ways in which social influences can negatively affect pilot performance, including the role of:

* group norms, roles, rank and status

* conformity, peer and supervisory pressure

* obedience to authority & group think

Participate in class and group discussions; answer questions from the class lecture notes, textbook, and other assigned readings; answer questions from midterm and final examinations; and, write a research safety article covering one of the human factors limitations discussed in class.

Evaluate a case study using the SHELL model to determine the multi-level causal factors of an aircraft accident; and, suggest mitigation strategies that may have been used at the various levels to reduce the probability of this accident occurring. 

5.    List and explain the major elements of effective crew resource management (CRM), including:

* Resource management (information, aircraft, people)

* Interpersonal communication (inquiry, advocacy, listening, conflict resolution, critique)

* Team performance (trans-cockpit authority gradient, relation-task orientation, assertiveness, synergy) 

* Decision making and risk assessment

* Leadership and followership

* Stress Management

Participate in class and group discussions; answer questions from the class lecture notes, textbook, and other assigned readings; answer questions from midterm and final examinations; and, write a research safety article covering one of the human factors limitations discussed in class.