From the Flight Deck – Human Factors: The Myth of Multitasking
Human factors are a real and often overlooked component in the safe operation of any aircraft. Understanding the basics of some of these human factors, as well as appropriate mitigation techniques, can keep flying more efficient, and above all, safe.
0:08 - Scenario where a pilot was multi tasking and crossed the hold-short line, causing a runway incursion that required the approaching aircraft to be sent around.
1:42 - Human factors are a real and often overlooked component in the safe operation of any aircraft. Understanding the basics of some of these human factors, as well as appropriate mitigation techniques, can keep flying more efficient, and above all, safe.
2:15 - The myth of multitasking.
3:00 - What can you do to prevent this from happening to you?
5:43 - Other distractions to pilots.
References:
Advisory Circular 91-73, Parts 91 and 135 Single Pilot, Flight School Procedures During Taxi Operations
NTSB Safety Alert – Distracting Devices? Turn Them Off!
https://www.ntsb.gov/Advocacy/safety-alerts/Documents/SA-025.pdf
Wickens (2021) Attention: Theory, Principles, Models and Applications, International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 37:5, 403-417, DOI: 10.1080/10447318.2021.1874741 Retrieved from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10447318.2021.1874741
Loukopoulos, Dismukes & Barshi (2009) . The Perils of Multitasking. Flight Safety Foundation, Aerosafety World, August 2009. Retrieved from https://flightsafety.org/asw/aug09/asw_aug09_p18-23.pdf
Loukopoulos, Dismukes, & Barshi, (2003). Concurrent task demands in the cockpit: Challenges and vulnerabilities in routine flight operations. In Proceedings of the 12th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology (pp. 737-742). Dayton, OH: The Wright State University. Retrieved from https://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/flightcognition/Publications/LL_KD_IB_ISAP_03.pdf
Additional resources found under the topics “Prospective memory” or “Concurrent task management” on NASA’s Flight Cognition Website https://human-factors.arc.nasa.gov/flightcognition/