Private Pilot (Airplane)
Human Factors Lesson Plan

Attention:

  • Research a mishap case study:
  • Discuss how the initial conditions developed into an incident/accident/mishap
  • Relate similar personal experience of the same type of incident/accident/mishap
  • Consider incorporating a case study as a guided scenario

Motivator:

  • The human body is the most important system on any manned aircraft
  • The body is influenced by an array of external factors such as pressure, oxygen, and chemicals, the body can be incapacitated or degraded through a variety of means
  • For these reasons, pilots must be medically qualified as well as fit to fly
  • Humans are never perfect and it is those human factors that pose other hazards to flight that must be mitigated

Overview:

Topic:
Time:
Introduction:
0:05
Human Factors:
0:20
Review (quiz):
0:05
Case Studies:
0:05
Total Ground Time:
0:35

Required Materials:

  • Required:
    • Writing instrument (pen, marker, etc.)
    • Writing surface (paper, whiteboard, etc.)
  • Optional:
    • Carbon Monoxide Detector

Instructor Actions:

Student Actions:

Human Factors Guided Scenario(s):

  • During the climb, the nervous passenger begins to start breathing heavily, panicking that they're an uneasy flier and have never been so far from the ground as they begin to experience dizziness
    • What may the passenger be experiencing?
    • What are some corrective actions?
    • How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
    • What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
  • The aircraft is now operating at a high altitude when a passenger starts becoming uncharacteristically talkative, laughing, and explaining how they're feeling a little light headed but otherwise enjoying the flight
    • What may the passenger be experiencing?
    • What are some corrective actions?
    • How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
    • What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
  • After landing, the pilot recognizes not only that they have a headache, but that they've had one after the past few flights
    • What may the pilot be experiencing?
    • What are some corrective actions?
    • How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
    • What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
  • Related scenarios:
    • None
  • Aids: None

Human Factors Case Studies:

  • Carbon Monoxide Case Studies:

  • Hypoxia Case Studies:

    • NTSB Identification: CEN12FA571:
      • The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The student pilot's impairment from alcohol, marijuana, and hypoxia, which adversely affected his ability to maintain control of the airplane
    • NTSB Identification: WPR12FA154:
      • The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The in-flight loss of control due to the pilot's impairment as a result of hypoxia. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's operation of the airplane above 12,500' without the aid of supplemental oxygen
    • NTSB Identification: CEN09LA527:
      • The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The in-flight loss of control due to the pilot's impairment as a result of hypoxia. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the unpressurized airplane at an altitude requiring supplemental oxygen without having any oxygen available
    • NTSB Identification: ERA09FA429:
      • The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot's improper modification of the certified, on-board oxygen system, which resulted in incapacitation due to hypoxia, and the airplane's subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain
    • NTSB Identification: DCA00MA005:
      • The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: Incapacitation of the flight crewmembers as a result of their failure to receive supplemental oxygen following a loss of cabin pressurization for undetermined reasons

  • Aeronautical Decision-Making Case Studies:

    • National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Identification: ERA22LA120:
      • The NTSB determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, inadequate inflight monitoring of the airplane’s flight parameters, and his failure to regain control of the airplane following entry into an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. The pilot’s likely spatial disorientation following the aerodynamic stall also contributed to the outcome

Private Pilot (Airplane) Human Factors Airman Certification Standards:

.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Human Factors Knowledge:

The applicant demonstrates understanding of:

Private Pilot (Airplane) Human Factors Risk Management:

The applicant demonstrates the ability to identify, assess and mitigate risks encompassing:

  • PA.I.H.R1:

    Aeromedical and physiological issues.

  • PA.I.H.R2:

    Hazardous attitudes.

  • PA.I.H.R3:

    Distractions, task prioritization, loss of situational awareness, or disorientation.

  • PA.I.H.R4:

    Confirmation and expectation bias.

Private Pilot (Airplane) Human Factors Skills:

The applicant exhibits the skill to:

Re-Motivation:

Closure:

  • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson
  • Assign study materials for the next lesson

Conclusion: