Human Factors

Private Pilot (Airplane) • ACS Area I, Task H

The Private Pilot (Airplane) Human Factors Lesson Plan covers the knowledge, risk management, and skills associated with personal health, flight physiology, and aeromedical and human factors related to safety of flight.

Introduction

Introduction

  • Schedule

    Topic:
    Time:
    Attention/Motivator:
    0:05
    Part 1, Lesson Introduction:
    0:05
    Part 2, Aeromedical Factors:
    0:30
    Part 3, Fitness for Flight:
    0:15
    Part 4, Aeronautical Decision Making:
    0:25
    Part 5, Aeromedical Regulation:
    0:10
    Part 6, Human Factors Risk Management:
    0:10
    Part 7, Human Factors Guided Scenario(s):
    0:20
    Part 8, Lesson Conclusion:
    0:05
    Remotivation/Closure:
    0:05
    Total Ground Time:
    0:00

  • Attention Getter:

  • Motivator:

    • The most advanced aircraft is only as safe as the pilot flying it.
    • Many physiological hazards begin subtly, influencing perception, judgment, and performance long before a pilot recognizes the warning signs.
    • Understanding how the aviation environment affects the human body and learning to identify and mitigate these risks is an essential part of becoming a safe, proficient pilot.
    • Throughout this lesson, you'll explore the human factors that shape aeronautical decision-making and discover how recognizing these hazards before they become emergencies can make every flight safer.
Materials

Materials

Instructor Actions

Instructor Actions

Guided Scenario(s)

Guided Scenario(s)

  • During the climb, the nervous passenger begins to start breathing heavily, panicking that they're an uneasy flier and have never been so far from the ground as they begin to experience dizziness.
    • What may the passenger be experiencing?
    • What are some corrective actions?
    • How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
    • What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
  • The aircraft is now operating at a high altitude when a passenger starts becoming uncharacteristically talkative, laughing, and explaining how they're feeling a little light headed but otherwise enjoying the flight.
    • What may the passenger be experiencing?
    • What are some corrective actions?
    • How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
    • What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
  • After landing, the pilot recognizes not only that they have a headache, but that they've had one after the past few flights.
    • What may the pilot be experiencing?
    • What are some corrective actions?
    • How could this event be prevented/mitigated on subsequent legs of the flight?
    • What are some of the risk factors for this type of event?
  • Related scenarios:
    • None.
Student Actions

Student Actions

Airman Certification Standards

Airman Certification Standards

ACS Objective and References

Knowledge 4 ACS Elements
Risk Management 4 ACS Elements
Skills 2 ACS Elements
Conclusion

Conclusion

  • Re-Motivation:

    • Human Factors demonstrates that safe performance depends on recognizing personal, physiological, and environmental limitations before they compromise judgment or aircraft control.
    • Honest self-assessment and early recognition of symptoms, stressors, medication effects, fatigue, and changing conditions give pilots time to reduce risk before it becomes an emergency.
    • Applying fitness-for-flight habits and sound aeronautical decision-making makes human-factor awareness a practical part of every preflight and in-flight decision.
    • Further study of Human Factors helps private pilots build the resilience, awareness, and judgment needed for increasingly demanding operations.

  • Closure:

    • Advise students that this lesson will be used as a starting point for the next lesson.
    • Assign study materials for the next lesson.