Safety of Flight: The Physiologic Aspect of the Weapon System.
Abstract
The use of naval platform is continuing to undergo downsizing and therefore those aircrew and aircraft who/which remain are becoming more valuable. Additionally, "pilot error" continues to be the principal cause of aircraft accidents and incidents leading to fatalities or losses over 1 million dollars (Class A mishaps). Indeed, Controlled Flight into Terrain (CFIT), Loss of Situational Awareness (LSA), Failure of Aircrew Coordination (FAC), Mid-Air Collisions (MAC), spatial Disorientation (SD), and Altered States of Awareness (ASA) from simple confusion to "almost" and frank G-induced loss of consciousness (A-LOC and G-LOC) account for over 50% of material losses. These losses may not be an error in the part of the pilot but rather the result of a physiologic event over which the pilot has essentially no control and limited protection. Accident investigation boards who identify a mishap cause(s) necessarily select it from a chain of events. The finding of "pilot error" may then be an attractive solution whenever the data available does not identify equipment, engine, or other component failure as the cause of the accident. This is probably especially true given the political environment under which these boards may be constrained. Moreover, the pilot may not be around to explain him/herself. Finally, certain accidents and incidents may very well be due to ASA but misclassified as LSA, SD, FAC, MAC, etc. for lack of relevant data. This data being the phsychophysiologic state of the pilot.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 06, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA367872
Entities
People
- Estrella Forster
Organizations
- Naval Air Warfare Center