EASA HPL C3,4

In EASA HPL, what does competency consist of?

Knowledge + Skill + Attitude (KSA)

Name three characteristics of a skilled pilot.

Practices regularly; self-manages; keeps resources in reserve for the unexpected

What is the approximate accident rate per airport movements?

Approximately 1 per 1,000,000 airport movements

What percentage of accidents are crew-related?

70–80%

What is the main crew-related factor in accidents?

Poor judgment

Are accidents usually caused by a single factor?

Rarely; usually multiple factors contribute

Which system introduced in the 1980s reduced hull-loss accidents?

GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System)

What does flight safety involve?

Theory, investigation, classification and prevention of incidents/accidents

Who is responsible for flight safety?

Responsibility is shared across the aviation industry

In complex organisations, who is responsible for safety?

Safety Manager and Safety Review Board

What does TEM stand for?

Threat & Error Management

What are the components of the SHEL model?

Software; Hardware; Environment; Liveware (pilot); Liveware (others)

In the SHEL model, what does "Software" include?

Checklists and warning systems

In the SHEL model, what does "Hardware" include?

Aircraft design, buttons, switches

In the SHEL model, what does "Environment" include?

Weather, terrain, ATC

In the SHEL model, what is the role of the pilot (Liveware)?

The pilot is the central hub

In the SHEL model, who are considered "Liveware (others)"?

ATC, cabin crew, maintenance

According to the SHEL model, how must non-human components behave?

They must adapt to the pilot

What is safety culture in relation to national culture?

A subset of national culture and is resistant to change

What is the primary aim of a safety culture?

To reduce risk as much as possible

What is a "just culture"?

Mistakes not punished; violations/negligence not tolerated

What is a "reporting culture"?

A culture where it is safe to report hazards

What is an "informed culture"?

A culture that collects and analyses safety data

Which high power-distance cultures are cited as examples to avoid?

Saudi Arabia; India; Russia

What are examples of environmental threats?

Weather; ATC; terrain; airport

What are examples of organisational threats?

Operational pressure; documentation issues; dispatch; maintenance

What are latent threats?

Hidden threats not obvious (e.g., short turnarounds; design flaws like the 737 MAX)

How is an "error" defined in EASA HPL?

An incorrect action or inaction during flight

Give an example of an aircraft handling error.

Manual flight control mistakes

Give another example of an aircraft handling error.

Automation misuse

Give an example of a procedural error related to SOPs.

Not following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Give an example of a procedural error related to checklists.

Incorrect or omitted checklist usage

Give an example of a procedural error related to callouts.

Omitted or incorrect callouts

Give an example of a procedural error related to systems.

Misuse or mismanagement of aircraft systems

Give an example of a procedural error related to radio.

Incorrect radio usage or phraseology errors

What is an example of a crew–crew communication error?

Miscommunication or misunderstanding between flight crew members

What is an example of a crew–external communication error?

Miscommunication with ATC or other external parties

What typically causes Undesired Aircraft States (UAS)?

They are typically flight crew–induced

What happens to safety margins in a UAS?

Safety margins are clearly reduced

What are UAS often the product of?

A combination of threats and uncorrected errors

What is the composition of the standard atmosphere?

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.92% rare gases, 0.03% CO₂

Below 70,000 ft, what is the major component of the atmosphere?

Nitrogen

What is the oxygen percentage in cabin air compared to sea level?

The same as at sea level

Where is the ozone layer located?

Stratosphere

How is ozone eliminated in a pressurised cabin?

By an ozone converter

How does pressure decrease with altitude?

Non-linear, higher rate at low altitude

At what altitude is pressure 50% of sea level?

18,000 ft

At what altitude is pressure 33% of sea level?

27,000 ft

At what altitude is pressure 25% of sea level?

36,000 ft

What is the temperature lapse rate in the troposphere?

-2°C per 1,000 ft

What are the sources of cosmic radiation?

Normal solar activity, random solar activity (solar flare), 11-year solar cycle

Where is cosmic radiation highest?

High latitudes and altitudes

Above what altitude must radiation records be kept?

49,000 ft

What causes galactic radiation?

Galactic particles

What is the nature of galactic radiation?

Steady and predictable

What blocks alpha radiation?

A sheet of paper

How far can beta radiation penetrate?

0.2 mm paper or 0.2 cm water

What is the average cosmic radiation dose per year compared to natural background radiation?

Equal

What radiation dose may cause adverse health effects?

100 mSv

At what temperature does hypothermia begin?

Below 35°C

At what temperature does severe hypothermia begin?

Below 32°C

What are the effects of severe hypothermia?

Mental disorders, coma

What is the role of shivering?

Combats cold temporarily, but with high energy demand

What are the effects of hypothermia?

Sleepiness, apathy, increased oxygen demand initially

What are the symptoms of dehydration?

Thirst, dizziness, fatigue

What is the typical cabin humidity in a pressurised aircraft?

5–15%

What is the advice for hydration in flight?

Drink water before feeling thirsty

What role does water play in the body?

Helps absorb nutrients

What are the properties of carbon monoxide (CO)?

Odourless, colourless

How does CO affect the body?

Competes with oxygen for haemoglobin

What is the haemoglobin affinity for CO compared to O₂?

210–250 times higher

How do CO effects change with altitude?

They worsen with altitude

What is respiratory control most sensitive to?

CO₂ percentage in the blood

What is the permeability of capillary walls?

Permeable to gases

What is the inspiratory reserve volume?

1.9–3.3 litres

What is the expiratory reserve volume?

0.7–1 litre

What is the residual volume?

1.2 litre

What is the normal breathing rate?

10–15 cycles per minute

What is the tidal volume?

500 ml per cycle

What is internal respiration?

Gas exchange between cells and blood

What characterises pulmonary artery blood?

Low in oxygen, high in CO₂

What causes decompression sickness?

Nitrogen oversaturation in body tissues

What is the risk after scuba diving deeper than 10 m (30 ft)?

Wait 24 hrs before flying

After rapid decompression without sickness, how long must you wait before flying?

12 hrs

When can decompression sickness symptoms appear?

Delayed, even after landing

What are the symptoms of decompression sickness in the joints?

Bends → descend to ≥10,000 ft or MSA, land ASAP

What are the symptoms of decompression sickness in the skin?

Creeps → breathe 100% oxygen

What are the symptoms of decompression sickness in the lungs?

Chokes → seek medical advice, recompression

How can decompression sickness be prevented?

Keep cabin <8,000 ft, 100% oxygen for 30 min prior/during flight

What is hyperventilation?

Increased lung ventilation

What are the causes of hyperventilation?

Anxiety, fear, pressure breathing, overstress, strong pain

What are the symptoms of hyperventilation?

Rapid/deep breathing, CO₂ elimination, unconsciousness, less O₂ diffusion, spasms, tingling, numbness, rapid heart rate

What is the mechanism of hyperventilation?

Shortage of CO₂ in blood, carbonic acid falls, blood becomes alkaline

What is the countermeasure for hyperventilation?

Breathe into a bag to raise CO₂ level quickly

What is hypoxia?

Lack of sufficient oxygen to meet body tissue needs for energy production

What are symptoms of hypoxia?

Euphoria, impaired judgement, memory disorder, fatigue, somnolence, dizziness, headache, breathlessness, impaired vision, weakness, loss of touch, tingling, cyanosis, hyperventilation

What are causes of hypoxia?

Low partial pressure of O₂ (<55 mmHg), CO binding to haemoglobin, +Gz, cellular malfunction

How can hypoxia be prevented?

Supplemental oxygen above 10,000 ft

What is the oxygen equivalence of 100% O₂ at 40,000 ft?

Ambient air at 10,000 ft

What is the oxygen equivalence of 100% O₂ at 38,000 ft?

Ambient air at 8,000 ft