Aviation Psychology Report: Human Factor Limitations and Safety

This report delves into the critical intersection of human factors and aviation psychology, examining how pilot limitations and psychological states can significantly impact flight safety. It explores various human factors, including attention, memory, decision-making, and stress, which can contribute to pilot errors and accidents. The report uses case studies, such as the Germanwings Flight 9525 and Comair Flight 5191 incidents, to illustrate how factors like stress, fatigue, and mental health issues can lead to catastrophic outcomes. It also discusses the importance of psychological testing, regular health assessments, and counseling for pilots to mitigate risks. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need for aviation companies to prioritize employee education, recognizing and preventing human errors. The conclusion highlights that while technological advancements are important, the greatest improvements in aircraft safety will come from educating aviation professionals to recognize and prevent human errors effectively.

HUMAN FACTOR
LIMITATIONS AND
AVIATION
PSYCHOLOGY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Analysis of human factor limitations and aviation psychology among pilots that resulted as
threat to safety of flights..............................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Human limitation specify as a human capability and limitations of human which have an
impact on efficiency and safety of aeronautical operations. It shows the performance of cabin
crew member that are carried out their duties. This report shows the case studies of incidents
which are occurred due to pilot fault and accused huge damage to human life and image of
airlines being demolishing. Hence, what are the reasons behind the incident that are mentioned.
MAIN BODY
Analysis of human factor limitations and aviation psychology among pilots that resulted as threat
to safety of flights
Aviation psychology is a subdivision of psychology where workers in this particular field
use their knowledge of human emotion and behaviour to improve aviation standards or
conditions which helps to provide mental health support to pilots, aircrew, airport staff and
address any anxiety related problems or job related stress as well (Martinussen, 2017). Human
factors are the issues related to how people do their job and complete the responsibilities. It
includes the social and individual skills for instance decision-making and communication which
complement our technical skills. There are many kinds of pilot errors and human factors which
can cause serious accidents such as attention, learning, memory, decision-making ability,
intelligence, motivation and psycho motor skills (Muñoz-Marrón, 2018). These skills are highly
important for harmless and efficient aviation.
The case Germanwings flight 9525 accident can be illustrated here where pilot was
found to be solely responsible person for this whole incident or air-plane crash (Flight safety
foundation, 2021). The suicidal tendency of the copilot who deliberately planned this action and
decided to commit suicide while alone in the cockpit which shows the human factor limitations
and their aviation psychology among individuals. This whole incident lead towards the loss of
150 passengers along with crew members. There are various human factors which affects the
psychology of the copilot due to which this incident had been taken place such as stress and
fatigue. As most of the airline operations run continuously across day and night zones (Vidulich,
Tsang, 2019). There is no routine work schedule and weekend holidays sometimes affects the
mental conditions of the pilots as pilots can be contacted by the company at any time. As
explained through this case study, the copilot was also suffered from serious mental health issues
and was taking prescription from doctors a week prior this incident. The copilot was taking

antidepressant medication with possible significant side effects which might lead towards this
accident. The influence of ingested foreign substances such as drugs, medication, alcohol and
cigarettes also affects the mental stability of pilots. As in this case the medication is factor which
affects the mental stability of copilot.
However, along with the mistake of copilot it has been analysed that there are certain
measures taken by the staff of airport or aircraft company in order to avoid such incidents for
instance psychological testing of pilot before starting the journey, regular assessment of pilot
health medical conditions and counselling by clinical psychotherapists helps in such kind of
cases to avoid accidents. With the effective usage of these activities the medical condition of
copilot comes in front of air-plane company and the loss of a lot of human lives might be
protected. With the effective usage of psychologists, the air plane companies can find better
ways to encourage their pilots and other professionals to come forward to obtain mental health
issue treatment at correct time without affecting their job. Moreover, Human factors guide for
Aviation maintenance (FAA, 1997), published by the FAA's office of Aviation medicine
presents basic concepts on reducing human errors in maintenance also taken as into
consideration for all the pilots and even crew members to make them aware about the situations
and their effective handling measures at correct time intervals (Archer, Fain, 2020).
Another case of human limitation is found in the Comair flight 5191 can be mentioned
here, where pilot solely found responsible for crash. Suicidal tendency of pilot that leads to
casualty of around 47 passengers and 3 crew member due to lack of judgement of pilot while
take-off. The aircraft is assigned to take off from the runway 22 but used runway 26 to take off
which was shorter than runway 22. The negligence of the pilot had suffered by the passenger
and crew members. These shows lack of skills and knowledge of pilot during the job and lack of
mental stability that need lead to such incidents (Kim, 2019). Pilot showed up with in-
disciplinary actions and orders that are not followed by him. From the investigation it is found
that, analysing the cockpit voice recorder that indicate the clear voice to take off from runway
22 which was used by most airline traffic. Also, pilot tuned all control of plane take off to first
officer. The air traffic controller was not required to hold the visual contact after the take off of
aircraft. Airport charts and sign are also can be a reason to barrier of on the airfield that helped
the flight crew taxi to get on the correct runway.

The lack of judgement is been seen from the illustrator and non-disciplinary actions and
not following the order of the authority. Lack of decision-making also comes under the human
limitation that leads to happened such a big incident (Nesterovich,Medenkov, and Kozlova,
2020). However, it may also be the fault of airline company which neglect the pilot stability and
health condition that cause this incident. The Training period of pilot can also be analysed that
need to be seen that pilot had disobeyed the order before or not. The environmental factor cabin
also refer that affect the pilot due to lack of viability of runway available to pilot but the chances
are quite low to occurred with this situation as it was fully intensional activity (Abbott, 2017)
(Karanikas, 2017). Pilot decision-making skills are very poor to decide the wrong runway which
is shorter than regular runway taken by all the air crafts. Also, The pilot decision can be made
due to high traffic on the runway 22 and clear way to take off from runway 26 can also be reason
to go from that runway.
Hence, It is concluded that human limitations can cause damage to large number of
people for the chain of event occurred. The crash of Comair 5191 may be intensionally, and they
also due to lack of responsibility that need to be filled by airport and airline company. From the
above illustrator it is find that lack of judgement in skills of pilot and lack of ability to make
correct decision-making leads to such incidents (Abbott, Karanikas, 2017). However, behaviour
of pilot was not appropriate and disobeying the orders from the above authorities.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that the greatest impact in aircraft safety will
not come from improving technological changes but with educating the employees such as crew
members and specially pilots to recognize and prevent human errors at right time. In the above
report the concept has been explained with the help of two case studies which provides detailed
information about the errors done by the pilots due to different human factors and the
psychological errors done by the pilots which leads towards the loss of a lot of human lives.
Apart from errors done by the pilots, there are various measures that need to be urgently
taken by the aircraft companies in order to avoid such kind of accidents in future has been
explained.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Martinussen, M. and Hunter, D.R., 2017. Aviation psychology and human factors. CRC Press.
Muñoz-Marrón, D., 2018. Human factors in aviation: CRM (crew resource
management). Papeles del Psicólogo/Psychologist Papers, 39(3). pp.191-199.
Vidulich, M.A. and Tsang, P.S. eds., 2019. Improving Aviation Performance through Applying
Engineering Psychology: Advances in Aviation Psychology, Volume 3. CRC Press.
Archer, S.K. and Fain, S.L., 2020. Managing Human Factors. Safety Management Systems:
Applications for the Aviation Industry, p.95.
Kim, C.Y., 2019. A Study on Improvement of Aviation Maintenance Human Factors Training
for Aviation Safety Promotion. Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation
Society, 20(2). pp.115-121.
Nesterovich, T.B., Medenkov, A.A. and Kozlova, N.M., Human Factors in Aviation and Space
Exploration.
Abbott, K.H., 2017. Human factors engineering and flight deck design. Digital avionics
handbook, pp.302-328.
Karanikas, N., 2017. Human factors science and safety Engineering. Can the STAMP model
serve in establishing a common Language. In 32nd EAAP Conference (pp. 132-49).
Online
Flight safety foundation, 2021. [Online]. Available Through: <https://flightsafety.org/fsf-
statement-on-germanwings-accident-report/>.
Kreindler, 2021. [Online]. Available Through: <https://www.kreindler.com/Recent-
Developments/Comair-Flight-5191-Pilot-Error-Remains-Focus-Of-Investigation-In-
Lexington-Kentucky-Crash-But-Other-Factors-May-Have-Contributed.shtml>.
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