Human Factors + Night Operations

What colors are the lights used to mark the edges of a taxiway at night?

Edge lights are blue

How long does it take for your eyes to adapt to darkness?

About 30 minutes to adjust

What is the purpose of position lights and what are their colors?

To make the aircraft visible to others and tell movement when flying.

Red on left, Green on Right, White on tail

What are the two major risks of night flying over unlit terrain and how can they be mitigated?

Loss of visual horizon, leading to spatial disorientation and lack of options in event of engine failure. Cross check instruments.

Risk of engine failure can b mitigated by planning route over airports, along interstates, flying higher altitudes, watch fuel amount.

What are the characteristics of a “Black Hole” approach?

An approach over water or an unlit terrain can cause pilots to misjudge their altitude and distance, causing the pilot to be “sucked into” the black hole and potentially causing an accident prior to the runway.

Follow PAPI lights or other vertical guidance if available

What are some common illusions experienced during night flight ?

False horizon: ground lights can create false horizon lines, causing pilots to misinterpret their altitude

Autokinesis: an illusion where stationary lights seem to move after staring at it for several seconds

How should you scan for traffic at night?

Use off-center viewing, as peripheral vision is more sensitive to low light

What is the definition of night according to the FAA?

Night is the period between the end of civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight

Typically it is 30 minutes after sunset and before sunrise.

This time can be logged as night time.

When must you turn on your position lights?

Sunset to sunrise

What is the required recent experience for a private pilot to carry passengers at night?

Pilot must of made at least 3 take offs and landings to a full stop in the last 90 days 1 hour after sunset and 1 before sunrise

What are PAPI/VASI lights and how do they assist in night landings?

(Precision Approach Path Indicator) and (Visual Approach Slop Indicator) lights provide visual decent guidance to help pilots maintain a constant correct glide path. Both provide obstacle clearance within 10 degrees and up to 3.4-4 miles

What visual illusion might occur when landing on a narrower than usual runway?

What about a wider runway?

Narrow: pilots may feel higher and fly lower

Wide: Pilots may feel lower and fly higher

Why is a flashlight an important tool during night flights?

Can be used for cockpit lighting in event of electrical failure and for preflight inspections

Should you use the Rods or Cones of your eye to see at night?

Use your rods

Rods: circle around center of the eye that are responsible for low light conditions and are highly sensitive

Cones: center of the eye and good for day viewing

What is Hypoxia and what are the symptoms?

Hypoxia: conditioner where there is insufficient oxygen available to the body

Symptoms: headache, dizziness, euphoria, impaired judgement, visual impairment, or loss of consciousness

By the time these symptoms come it may be too late so prevention is important to mitigate risk

What are the four types of Hypoxia?

Hypoxic: insufficient oxygen in air

Hypemic: blood can’t carry sufficient oxygen due to carbon monoxide

Stagnant: poor blood circulation due to excessive G force or heart conditions

Histotoxic: inability of cells to use oxygen properly due to alcohol or drugs

What are the supplemental oxygen requirements for flight?

Required flight crew members must use oxygen from 12,500-14,000 for <30min or over 14,000ft

Above 15,000ft and passengers must have oxygen

What is hyperventilation, what causes it, and how can it be remedied?

Excessive breathing caused by anxiety or stress that decreases carbon dioxide levels

Slow breathing, paper bag, talk aloud to focus on controlling breathing

How does Dehydration affect a pilots performance?

Can cause fatigue, dizziness, and impaired cognitive function

What is the “IMSAFE” checklist and how is it used?

Illness

Medication

Stress

Alcohol

Fatigue

Eating/emotion

Preflight checklist

How does alcohol consumption affect pilot performance?

Impairs cognitive motor skills, affects judgement, and can lead to dehydration and hangovers

What is the minimum time a pilot should wait after consuming alcohol before flying?

At least 8 hours “Bottle to Throttle” from last drink or symptom

And a BAC of 0.04 or less with no symptoms

12 hours for many airlines

How does Carbon Monoxide Poisoning occur in an aircraft and what are the symptoms?

Can occur when exhaust flames leak into cabin due to crack in manifold during heating

Symptoms: headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion, loss of muscular power

Wise to have carbon monoxide detector when flying

What is the impact of stress on a pilot performance and how can a pilot manage it effectively?

Stress can impair decision making, reduce concentration, cause fatigue, and negatively affect overall performance

Small amounts of stress can help focus by eliminating minimal issues

Proper planning, training, and staying ahead of aircraft will minimize stress

What is “Get-There-Itis” and how can it affect flight safety?

Hazardous habit that causes pilots to continue even when information suggests plan should be modified.

EX: getting back to your home airport despite bad weather conditions approaching

What are the five hazardous attitudes identified by the FAA?

Anti-Authority “Don’t tell me what to do” → Follow rules that are usually right

Impulsivity “do something quickly” → Not so fast, think first

Invulnerability “It won’t happen to me” → It could happen to me

Macho “I can do it” → taking chances is foolish

Resignation “What’s the use” → I am not helpless, I can make a difference

How can pilots improve their delicious-making skills?

Use DECIDE model

Detect the problem

Estimate the need to react

Choose a course of action

Identify solutions

Do the necessary actions

Evaluate the effect

What is the PAVE checklist?

It’s a risk management tool

Pilot: IMSAFE preflight assessment

Aircraft: check aircraft’s airworthiness, performance, and equipment

enVironment: evaluate weather, terrain, airports, and other external factors

External pressures: consider any stressful factors that may affect decision-making

What is Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)?

A systematic approach to making safe decision in aviation

What are the five P’s of Aeronautical Decision Making?

Plan, Plane, Pilot, Passengers, Programming

What is the difference between Chronic and Acute Fatigue?

Chronic: long-term fatigue from sustained stress or lack of rest, requiring extended recovery

Acute: short-term fatigue from a single task or one day activity, usually relieved by rest

What are the effects Scuba diving can have on passengers and crew of an aircraft?

Flying after scuba diving can result in decompression sickness

For flights at or below 8,000ft MSL wait at least 12 hours, if controlled decent was required for dive wait at least 24 hours

If flying over 8,000ft MSL then you must wait 24 hours

What is the hierarchy that helps pilots manage their workload and maintain situational awareness before attention to other tasks?

Aviate, Navigate, Communicate

What is CFIT

Controlled Flight into Terrain

When a pilot unintentionally flying into obstruction such as the ground or a mountain due to lack of spacial awareness