Human Factors

1
Human Factors

• Food For Thought

2
Why?

• Almost all accidents can be attributed to human
  error
• They don't all happen to stupid or inexperienced
  people!!
• So what makes a good pilot cock it up?

3
Age

• No minimum age to fly in a glider but consider
  behaviour of younger ones. Ballast also an issue.
  12Yrs old is a good guide.
• Minimum solo age is 16
• No upper limit for flying
• With age comes reduced mental and physical
  fitness (slower reactions!)?
• Probably very hard to admit but recognise when
  safety is compromised by age.

4
Medicals

• Can self declare fitness to fly with an
  Instructor
• Doctor needs to countersign declaration of
  fitness for solo flight.
• Medical valid until 45 yrs old then renewed every
  5 years until 65. From 65 yrs up renewal is
  annual.
• Renewal required following serious illness
• Pilots own responsibility to ensure medical is
  valid.
• If your driving license is revoked on medical
  grounds then you automatically become unfit to
  fly solo.
• Full details on www.gliding.co.uk/bgainfo/medical.
  htm

5
Your Physical Well-Being

• Some possible reasons for feeling bad
• I - Illness
• M - Medication
• S - Stress
• A - Alcohol
• F - Fatigue
• F - Flying Currency
• E - Eating
• I'M SAFE?!?

6
Illness

• Do not fly with a cold
• Flying with a blocked nose can damage your
  hearing and can lead to worse infections.
• Other illnesses people may try to fly with and
  shouldn't due to (severely?) reduced
  concentration include
• Headache
• Food Poisoning
• Blocked Nose or Blocked Sinuses.

7
Medication and Drugs

• Medication can cause sleepiness, dizziness or
  other reactions that will affect concentration.
• Always check the label on ANY medication.
• Illicit drugs are totally incompatible with
  aviation.
• You should not fly within 24 hours of a local
  anaesthetic, and 48 hours of a general
  anaesthetic.
• You should not fly for at least 24 hours after
  giving blood, even this can be risky (the RAF ban
  after blood donation is 7 days!)?

8
Mental Stress Other Distractions

• Numerous possible causes
• Argument
• Work difficulties
• Debt
• General Depression
• Annoyance with inefficiency at launchpoint
  (surely not at WOG!)?
• Do not launch until you are calm and don't let
  others rush you into a panic.
• Women are affected by menstrual cycle to
  differing degrees, must decide themselves if fit
  to fly.
• Annoyances in flight (little noises etc) can add
  stress.

9
That Sweet Sweet Alcohol!!

• Judgement is affected by less than a pint.
• Alcohol is a quickly acting depressant for the
  central nervous system.
• Alcohol limit for gliding is ¼ of the car drivers
  limit. Gliding limit is 20mg/100ml. This limit
  applies to anyone involved in flying operations.
• Note that effects of alcohol are doubled at
  10,000ft.

10
The Morning After...

• It takes about an hour to eliminate 1 unit (half
  a pint of bitter) of alcohol from the blood.
• You may be over the limit the morning after a
  binge!
• The amount of food that you eat whilst drinking
  has little effect on rate of alcohol absorption.
• Exercise, sleep and coffee have no effect either.
• You will sleep better if you don't drink and
  therefore will be more alert the next day.
• Dehydration the following morning can also be an
  issue.

11
Fatigue

• A good night's sleep before flying is essential.
• After a bad night you will feel awake in the
  morning, especially if busy, but severe fatigue
  may occur later in the day.
• Avoid caffeine for 6hrs before bed.
• Severe jet lag should ground you.
• Excessive flying can cause fatigue, try to spot
  the signs.
• It has been known for pilots to be grown up
  enough to withdraw part way through a comp.
• Boredom can cause fatigue, set yourself goals
  while flying.

12
Currency

• Current pilots are noticeably better at the
  basics.
• Flying occasionally in order to only ever stay
  just within club currency rules can be dangerous.
• Rustiness impairs your ability to spot and deal
  with even minor problems.
• Check flights are a good thing!!
• It is good to maintain a logbook beyond
  Silver(soon to be necessary)?
• Dual flying is fun and always educational (for
  you and the instructor!) if you have the right
  attitude.

13
Eating

• It is important to maintain blood sugar levels
  (as any diabetic will know!)?
• Reduced blood sugar seriously affects alertness
• Hunger and fatigue are a particularly dangerous
  combination.
• You shouldn't skip breakfast or lunch and then
  fly.
• Pure sugar snacks produce short term fix followed
  by a 'crash'.
• Sandwiches and fruit are better for longer
  periods.

14
Comfort

• It is hard to concentrate if you're not
  comfortable.
• It's worth spending time and money getting the
  seating position right.
• If you're sat too low in cockpit, you won't be
  able to see landing area properly
• Do not use soft cushions, they are dangerous.
• Use energy absorbing foam (dynafoam) to sit on.
• All cushions should be secured in place.
• Check that you won't move under winch launch
  forces.

15
Psychology
16
Minimise Workload

• Check lists, currency and a general systematic
  approach all reduce workload.
• Free mental capacity allows you to quickly deal
  with non-routine things.
• Mentally rehearse emergencies
• Get comfortable before take off.
• Try to plan ahead (field landing points etc)?
• Be familiar with controls to avoid confusion when
  under stress.
• Don't allow yourself to get 'too busy'.

17
Speaking up

• Don't be afraid to say something
• Everybody makes mistakes!
• If your thinking is wrong then you'll learn
  something by asking the question!

18
Personal Attitude

• Be aware of your own personality
  (personalities?!?).
• FAA says the following could be a problem
• Macho
• Anti-authority
• Invulnerable
• Impulsive
• Resigned

19
Physiology
20
Eyesight

• Get your eyes tested every 2 years
• You need to be better than UK driving minimum.
• Spare glasses must be accessible in flight.
• Wear sunglasses
• Good sunglasses can help your flying by enhancing
  features like haze caps and other aircraft!!

21
Barotrauma

• Is pain and/or injury caused by pressure
  differences.
• If you need to fart do it!
• Avoid 'gassy' foods if planning high altitude
  flight.
• Descend!
• Ear and sinus problems can be very significant.

22
Spatial Disorientation

• Caused by mismatch between vision and inner ear
  (balance) sensory inputs.
• Some people don't get used to flight.
• Cloud flying.
• Believe your instruments.

23
Dehydration

• Most people don't drink enough water normally.
• You need lots when under a canopy in the sun.
• Makes you tired, irritable and confused.
• If you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated.
• Drink little and often
• Avoid caffeine before flight.
• Wear a beanie!

24
Oxygen

• We don't do very well without it
• Isn't much of it at height.
• Should be on oxygen from 10,000ft
• Must be on oxygen from 12,000ft
• Hypoxia symptoms include
• Personality change
• Loss of judgement
• Over confidence
• Euphoria
• Loss of memory
• Eventually death!!

25
Other things to think about

• G-effects
• Blackouts, know your limits.
• Hypothermia
• Long winter flights, frostbitten toes!
• Pregnancy
• Ask your doctor, straps not good.
• Going to the loo!
• Plan how you're going to do it.

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Now go have fun -)?