GVC Human Factors & Crew Resource Management 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in UAS operations?
- To ensure aircraft maintenance is completed correctly
- To optimise the use of all available resources to enhance safety and efficiency (Correct answer)
- To manage battery and fuel consumption during flight
- To plan flight routes using GPS navigation systems
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which human factor is most commonly cited as a contributing cause in UAS and manned aviation accidents?
- Equipment failure
- Poor weather conditions
- Human error (Correct answer)
- Airspace violations by other aircraft
Correct 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.
Question 3: What does the term 'situational awareness' mean in the context of UAS operations?
- Knowing the location of other aircraft on ATC radar
- The ability to perceive, comprehend, and project the state of the operational environment (Correct answer)
- Having a detailed paper map of the operational area
- Being aware of the drone's battery level at all times
Correct 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.
Question 4: Which of the following best describes 'confirmation bias' in UAS decision-making?
- Seeking information that actively contradicts your current plan
- The tendency to search for and favour information that confirms your pre-existing beliefs (Correct answer)
- Double-checking all flight parameters before launch
- Confirming weather conditions with ATC before commencing a flight
Correct 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.
Question 5: What is 'plan continuation bias' (sometimes called get-there-itis) in UAS operations?
- The tendency to continue with an original plan even when circumstances have changed unfavourably (Correct answer)
- A structured method for planning long-distance flights
- The process of updating a flight plan mid-mission via ATC
- A technique for maintaining constant visual contact with the drone
Correct 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.
Question 6: How does fatigue most significantly affect a remote pilot's operational performance?
- It improves focus on individual tasks by reducing distraction
- It increases physical strength required for equipment handling
- It impairs judgement, reaction time, and decision-making ability (Correct answer)
- It has minimal effect on performance if the pilot is sufficiently experienced
Correct 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.
Question 7: What is the 'IMSAFE' checklist used for in aviation and UAS operations?
- Checking aircraft systems and sensors before every flight
- Assessing a remote pilot's personal fitness to fly safely (Correct answer)
- Verifying insurance documentation and regulatory compliance
- Planning and rehearsing emergency contingency procedures
Correct 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.
GVC Human Factors & Crew Resource Management 1
What is the primary purpose of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in UAS operations?