PPL Pilot Health and Human Factors Flashcards

What are the five hazardous attitudes identified by the FAA?

Answer: Anti-authority, Impulsivity, Invulnerability, Macho, Resignation

The FAA identifies five hazardous attitudes: Anti-authority ('Don't tell me'), Impulsivity ('Do it quickly'), Invulnerability ('It won't happen to me'), Macho ('I can do it'), and Resignation ('What's the use').

How can pilots best preserve their night vision before and during night flight?

Answer: Avoid bright lights before flight and use red cockpit lighting to protect dark-adapted rod cells

Night vision depends on rod cells that require about 30 minutes to dark-adapt; red cockpit lighting is used because rod cells are less sensitive to red wavelengths, preserving adaptation.

What are the visual acuity requirements for a third-class FAA medical certificate?

Answer: 20/40 in each eye with or without correction

A third-class medical certificate requires distant vision of at least 20/40 in each eye separately, with or without corrective lenses.

What is the 'leans' as experienced by pilots?

Answer: A false sensation that the aircraft is banked when instruments show level flight

The leans occur when a pilot recovers from an undetected bank and the vestibular system still senses a bank, causing the pilot to feel tilted even though the aircraft is wings level.

How does excessive stress affect pilot performance?

Answer: It narrows attention, degrades decision-making, and increases the likelihood of errors

While mild stress can enhance alertness, excessive stress causes attentional narrowing, impaired working memory, and degraded decision-making — the opposite of what emergencies require.

What is Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)?

Answer: A systematic mental process pilots use to consistently determine the best course of action in any situation

ADM is a structured approach to pilot decision-making that addresses identifying the problem, assessing risk, evaluating alternatives, and selecting the safest option.