Chapter 8 Human Factors

What is Hypoxia?

When your body doesn’t get enough oxygen.

What is Hypoxic-hypoxia?

Not enough oxygen in the air—common at high altitudes.

What is Hypemic-hypoxia?

Blood can’t carry enough oxygen, like from carbon monoxide or smoking.

What is Stagnant-hypoxia?

Blood doesn’t circulate properly—caused by cold, G-forces, or heart failure.

What is Histotoxic-hypoxia?

Cells can’t use oxygen properly—caused by alcohol, narcotics, or toxins.

What altitude does Hypoxia usually occur?

Starts at 5,000 ft at night, and 12,000 ft during the day.

What are symptoms of Hypoxia?

Headache, lightheadedness, fatigue, poor judgment, memory issues.

What increases a pilot’s risk of Hypoxia?

Carbon monoxide, exhaust fumes, anemia, sedatives.

How can Hypoxia be avoided?

Use supplemental oxygen: above 10,000 ft during day, 5,000 ft at night if flying for over 30 min.

What is Hyperventilation?

Breathing too fast—often caused by stress or fear.

What are symptoms of Hyperventilation?

Lightheadedness, drowsiness, disorientation, muscle spasms.

How do you fix Hyperventilation?

Breathe slowly and deeply, talk aloud, descend if possible.

What is an ear block and how can it be prevented?

Pressure change issue in the middle ear; use Valsalva maneuver to fix it.

What is Spatial Disorientation?

You lose track of your position relative to the earth or objects around you.

What causes Spatial Disorientation?

Conflicting signals from eyes, ears, and body.

What causes Motion Sickness?

Conflicting info from eyes, ears, and body.

Symptoms of Motion Sickness?

Nausea, sweating, dizziness, headache.

How to handle Motion Sickness in flight?

Look outside, open vents, use oxygen.

What is Carbon Monoxide poisoning?

Colorless, odorless gas in exhaust fumes that reduces oxygen in your blood.

How does CO poisoning occur and what are the symptoms?

Exhaust leak—causes headache, drowsiness, dizziness.

What to do if you suspect CO poisoning?

Turn off heater, open vents, land and get medical help.

What is stress and its two types?

Stress is how you react to demands. Types: Acute (short-term) and Chronic (long-term).

What is Acute Stress?

Short-term reaction to emergency or danger.

What is Chronic Stress?

Long-term stress from ongoing problems.

What are 3 types of stressors?

Physical (heat, noise)

Physiological (fatigue, illness)

Psychological (emotions, workload).

What is Fatigue?

Low mental or physical performance from lack of rest or stress.

What are the two types of Fatigue?

Acute (short-term) and Chronic (long-term and dangerous).

How does fatigue affect performance?

Less focus, poor coordination, bad communication.

Symptoms of Fatigue?

Slow reactions, poor awareness, low motivation.

What is Dehydration?

Loss of water in the body—causes fatigue, dizziness, and poor performance.

What causes Dehydration in pilots?

Heat, humidity, caffeine, long flights.

What is Hypothermia?

Body temp below 95°F—reduces brain and body performance.

How does heat leave the body—Conduction?

Touching something cold pulls heat away.

How does heat leave the body—Radiation?

Body heat radiates from exposed skin, especially the head.

How does heat leave the body—Convection?

Cold air removes heat faster than your body can replace it.

How does heat leave the body—Evaporation?

Sweat cools you off but also draws heat out.

How does heat leave the body—Respiration?

You warm cold air by breathing it in—losing heat.

Symptoms of Hypothermia?

Shivering, trouble speaking, blue skin, slow movement.

First line of defense against Hypothermia?

Shelter—clothing keeps you warm; wet clothes lose heat fast.

What is Runway Width Illusion?

Narrow runway makes you feel high → low approach. Wide runway makes you feel low → high approach.

What is Runway and Terrain Slopes Illusion?

Downhill runway feels low → fly high. Uphill feels high → fly low.

What is Featureless Terrain Illusion?

Flying over flat areas makes you feel high → fly low.

What illusion does rain on the windscreen cause?

Makes you think you’re high → you fly lower.

What illusion does haze cause?

Makes you think you’re far away → you fly low.

What illusion does fog cause?

Makes you feel nose-up → you pitch down and descend too fast.

Why avoid flying right after scuba diving?

Nitrogen in your blood can expand at altitude—wait 12 to 24 hours before flying.

Alcohol rules for pilots?

No flying within 8 hours of drinking, or with a BAC over 0.04%, or while under influence.

Should pilots allow drunk passengers onboard?

No, unless it’s a medical emergency.

How do meds affect pilots in flight?

Side effects get worse with altitude—can hurt performance.

Can you fly while taking meds?

Only if your AME approves. OTC drugs can be dangerous too.

Can you fly while taking cold meds?

Not safely—effects can hurt judgment, especially in flight.

What’s SRM (Single Pilot Resource Management)?

Using all tools and skills to safely manage the flight.

What is the IMSAFE checklist?

Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Eating.

Skills needed for good SRM?

Good decision-making, risk/task management, CFIT awareness.

What’s a practical way to practice SRM?

Use the 5Ps: Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, Programming.

What does Plan mean (5Ps)?

Weather, route, delays, fuel.

What does Plane mean (5Ps)?

Aircraft status—mechanical, automation, backups.

What does Pilot mean (5Ps)?

Your health and readiness.

What does Passengers mean (5Ps)?

Experience and behavior of passengers.

What does Programming mean (5Ps)?

GPS, autopilot, clearance changes—do you know what it’s doing?

When should you use the 5Ps?

Before and during flight, before takeoff/landing, in emergencies.

What is ADM (Aeronautical Decision Making)?

Mental process for choosing the best flight action.

Steps of ADM?

Define problem → Choose action → Do it → Evaluate it.

2 common ADM models?

DECIDE and 3P models.

What are the steps of the DECIDE model?

Detect → Estimate → Choose → Identify → Do → Evaluate.

What is the 3P model?

Perceive risk, Process it, Perform to manage it.

How is 3P different from DECIDE?

3P is continuous; DECIDE is more reactive.

Name 5 hazardous attitudes and their antidotes.

Anti-authority: Follow rules. Impulsivity: Think first. Invulnerability: It can happen to me. Macho: Don’t take chances. Resignation: I can make a difference.

What’s the first step to fixing a hazardous attitude?

Recognize it and say the antidote.

What is Risk Management?

Finding and reducing risks for flight safety.

What is a hazard?

Anything that could cause danger—like fatigue, bad weather, or faulty parts.

What is risk?

Potential impact from a hazard if it's not controlled.

How does the PAVE checklist help with risk?

It breaks risks into: Pilot, Aircraft, enVironment, External pressures.

Why use a personal minimums checklist?

It helps you set your own safe limits—not just legal ones.

How do you control risk with PAVE?

Set limits for Pilot, Aircraft, Environment, and External pressures.

What is the I'M SAFE checklist for?

Checking your own health: Illness, Meds, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotions.

How is the 3P model used in risk management?

Perceive using PAVE → Process using CARE → Perform using TEAM.

How often should you use the 3P model?

Continuously during the flight—conditions change.

What is a risk assessment matrix?

Tool that rates how likely and how severe a risk is—shows low/medium/high.

What is a FRAT?

A checklist that shows flight risk before takeoff—uses PAVE and gives score.

What is Task Management?

Keeping track of everything needed to fly safely.

What hurts workload management?

Noise, heat, fatigue, hunger, stress, unfamiliar problems.

How to reduce pilot workload?

Slow down, prioritize, ask for help, use autopilot, ask ATC.

Best way to prioritize tasks in emergencies?

Aviate → Navigate → Communicate.

How to avoid distraction while flying?

Plan ahead and handle hard tasks during calm periods.

Why use checklists?

To follow standard steps and avoid skipping things.

Two checklist methods?

Do-Verify: Do from memory, then confirm. Challenge-Do-Verify: Say it, do it, then verify.

Checklist errors?

Distractions, rushing, using the wrong list, looking down too long, missing memory checks.

When should you use a checklist?

Every major phase: preflight, start, taxi, takeoff, cruise, descent, landing, shutdown.

Best way to manage a checklist?

Point at item, say its status, say “Checklist complete” when done.

What are immediate action items?

Emergency steps done from memory before reading the checklist.

What is Situational Awareness (SA)?

Knowing everything affecting the flight: aircraft, self, environment, pressure.

What helps maintain SA?

Check aircraft status, position, weather, passengers, and airspace.

What hurts SA?

Fatigue, distractions, surprise, stress, unknowns, broken equipment.

How to stay aware in advanced aircraft?

Double-check everything, use callouts, verify what the system is doing.

How to maintain SA in advanced aircraft?

Preflight checks, confirm routes, use backups, stay within your skill level.

What causes most CFIT accidents?

Lack of currency, poor SA, distractions, bad planning, not following altitudes.

How to reduce CFIT risk before flight?

Check airport details, lighting, weather, ATC limits, and procedures.

How to avoid CFIT?

Maintain SA, follow safe procedures, know terrain, fly stable, follow ATC, don’t get lazy.

What is automation management?

Using aircraft automation correctly and safely.