Flight Dept 3.qxp_Finance 20/07/2021 14:52 Page 1
FLIGHT DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT
How to Optimize Human Performance on the Flight Deck In a world of automated systems aboard the business jet flight deck, why is human performance still such an important factor, and how can flight crews work towards improving their own performance? Mario Pierobon speaks with Antonio De Marchi, a Senior CRM Trainer… uman performance provides a significant contribution to maintaining or improving safety in Business Aviation operations. For example, pilots may plan ahead for threats and errors, or provide solutions to these by deploying abnormal and emergency procedures when necessary. However, human performance is characterised by limitations which can have a negative impact on safety in the flight deck. We’ll review some human performance limitations within Business Aviation and explore the strategies to optimize human performance in the flight deck – including the use of resources; the development of non-technical skills; and the practice of operational risk management.
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What are the Human Performance Limitations in BizAv?
Common examples of human performance limitations within Business Aviation operations are the loss of situational awareness, according to Antonio De Marchi, a Senior Crew Resource Management Trainer. “These may arise at any time, and problem-solving and decision-making may be impaired as a consequence of the loss of situation awareness.
98 Vol 25 Issue 8 2021 AVBUYER MAGAZINE
“If a pilot is performing an approach in bad weather conditions, the same pilot can experience socalled ‘tunnel vision’, and may focus on maintaining certain parameters (such as speed and pitch), but lose other parameters, such as altitude and thrust setting.” In the history of Business Aviation, one of the key ways to address human performance limitations has been through the apparently endless upgrading of aircraft technology, and in particular via the automation of tasks on the flight deck. Electronic checklists, electronic navigation and en-route charts, vertical navigation displays, predictive windshear detection systems, and more, all bear witness to this.
Situational Awareness
While the intent of the developers of automated technology is to support improved situational awareness of crews, the end result frequently leads to pilot complacency, reducing – and sometimes even losing – situational awareness. Automation should not merely be seen as a means for creating reduced pilot workload: It should ultimately lead to more efficient workload management. “If, for example, pilots have to cope with unreliable
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