FAA ATP Human Factors Questions

The air carrier must give instruction on such subjects as respiration, hypoxia, and decompression to crewmembers serving on pressurized airplanes operated above

• FL 180.
• FL 200.
• FL 250.

Explanation: Crewmembers who serve in operations above 25,000 feet must receive instruction in respiration, hypoxia, and decompression.

Human Factors - Crew Resource Management

The lighter workloads associated with glass (digital) flight instrumentation

• are useful in decreasing flightcrew fatigue.
• have proven to increase safety in operations.
• may lead to complacency by the flightcrew.

Explanation: The enhanced situational awareness and automation capabilities offered by a glass flight deck vastly expand its safety and utility, but there is some risk that lighter workloads could lead to complacency by the flightcrew.

Human Factors - Crew Resource Management

When flying an aircraft with electronic flight displays (EFDs), risk increases

• if the pilot expects the electronics to enhance flight safety and remove pilot error.
• when the pilot expects the equipment to malfunction on occasion.
• if the pilot believes the EFD will compensate for lack of skill and knowledge.

Explanation: Automation has been shown to erode some flying skills when they are not kept proficient.

AC 120-71 - Flight Crew Procedures and Automation

The illusion of being in a noseup attitude which may occur during a rapid acceleration takeoff is known as

• inversion illusion.
• autokinesis.
• somatogravic illusion.

Explanation: A rapid acceleration during takeoff can create the illusion of being in a nose-up attitude. This is known as a Somatogravic Illusion. Answer (A) is incorrect because the inversion illusion results from an abrupt change from climb to straight-and-level flight which can create an illusion of tumbling backwards. Answer (B) is incorrect because autokinesis refers to a stationary light appearing to move about when stared at for many seconds in the dark.

FAA Airplane Flying Handbook - Vestibular Illusions

A pilot is more subject to spatial disorientation when

• ignoring or overcoming the sensations of muscles and inner ear.
• eyes are moved often in the process of cross-checking the flight instruments.
• body sensations are used to interpret flight attitudes.

Explanation: When seated on an unstable moving platform at altitude with your vision cut off from the earth, horizon or other fixed reference, you are susceptible to misinterpreting certain body sensations caused by angular accelerations. Answer (A) is incorrect because ignoring or overcoming the sensations of muscles and inner ear is a means of avoiding (not becoming subject to) spatial disorientation. Answer (B) is incorrect because rapid eye movements have little or no impact on spatial disorientation and vision reference to reliable flight instruments helps avoid spatial disorientation.

FAA Airplane Flying Handbook - Spatial Disorientation

An air carrier aircraft flown into the ground while troubleshooting a landing gear fault is an example of

• neglect and reliance on memory.
• loss of situational awareness.
• lack of aviation experience.

Explanation: Instances of human factor accidents include operational errors that relate to loss of situational awareness and flying outside the envelope. These can be termed as operational pitfalls.

FAA Airplane Flying Handbook - Human Factors

Haze can give the illusion that the aircraft is

• closer to the runway than it actually is.
• farther from the runway than it actually is.
• the same distance from the runway as when there is no restriction to visibility.

Explanation: Atmospheric haze can create an illusion of being at a greater distance from the runway than you actually are.

FAA Airplane Flying Handbook - Illusions Leading to Landing Errors

Which observed target aircraft would be of most concern with respect to collision avoidance?

• One which appears to be ahead and moving from left to right at high speed.
• One which appears to be ahead and moving from right to left at slow speed.
• One which appears to be ahead with no lateral or vertical movement and is increasing in size.

Explanation: Any aircraft that appears to have no relative motion and stays in one scan quadrant is likely to be on a collision course. If a target shows no lateral or vertical motion, but increases in size, take evasive action. Answer (A) is incorrect because an airplane which is ahead of you and moving from left to right, or from right to left, should pass in front of you. Answer (B) is incorrect because an airplane which is ahead of you and moving from left to right, or from right to left, should pass in front of you.

AIM 8-1-6 - Vision in Flight