One way of improving flight safety is to increase judgment training for pilots. This requires an understanding of the physical and psychological factors involved in judgment. Shortly, applicants for both private and commercial pilot licences will be examined in the subject of "human performance and limitations". This covers basic aviation physiology and health maintenance; aviation psychology; stress, fatigue and their management; and the social psychology and ergonomics of the flightdeck. Not only will the subject be completely new to students - instructors will have to get to grips with a complex, new topic. This is likely to be the first guide on the subject, written by an author with considerable experience in preparing aviation training material. There will be a contribution from a doctor with experience of aviation medicine.
Human factors are cited as a major cause in over 70% of accidents, and it is widely agreed that a better understanding of human capabilities and limitations - both physical and psychological - would help reduce human error and improve flight safety.
Many private and commercial pilot licence examinations worldwide now include the subject of human performance and limitations. This book, written by two pilots, one of whom is also an aviation medical practitioner, provides a readable introduction to the basic concepts of human factors in aviation. It features an important section on basic aviation psychology, as well as topics on physiology and high altitude environment and health maintenance.
The Third Edition has now been expanded to include more detail on the physiology of hypoxia, as well as deeper coverage of principles of aviation psychology.