Human Factors & Crew Resource Management Flashcards

What is the primary purpose of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in UAS operations?

Answer: To optimise the use of all available resources to enhance safety and efficiency

CRM focuses on optimising the use of all available resources — people, equipment, and information — to enhance safety and operational effectiveness.

Which human factor is most commonly cited as a contributing cause in UAS and manned aviation accidents?

Answer: Human error

Human error is consistently identified as the primary contributing factor in the vast majority of aviation and UAS incidents and accidents worldwide.

What does the term 'situational awareness' mean in the context of UAS operations?

Answer: The ability to perceive, comprehend, and project the state of the operational environment

Situational awareness encompasses three levels: perceiving what is happening, understanding its significance, and projecting what will happen next in the environment.

Which of the following best describes 'confirmation bias' in UAS decision-making?

Answer: The tendency to search for and favour information that confirms your pre-existing beliefs

Confirmation bias causes pilots to selectively attend to information supporting their existing belief while discounting contradictory evidence, leading to poor risk assessment.

What is 'plan continuation bias' (sometimes called get-there-itis) in UAS operations?

Answer: The tendency to continue with an original plan even when circumstances have changed unfavourably

Plan continuation bias is the tendency to press on with an original plan despite new information indicating it should be abandoned, and is a significant cause of accidents.

How does fatigue most significantly affect a remote pilot's operational performance?

Answer: It impairs judgement, reaction time, and decision-making ability

Fatigue significantly impairs cognitive function including judgement, decision-making, and reaction time, regardless of the pilot's experience level.

What is the 'IMSAFE' checklist used for in aviation and UAS operations?

Answer: Assessing a remote pilot's personal fitness to fly safely

IMSAFE (Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion) is a personal checklist remote pilots use to assess their own fitness to conduct safe UAS operations.