CPL Human Factors flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Hypoxic hypoxia
- Reduced oxygen partial pressure in the alveoli, typically from high altitude or breathing gas with low oxygen content. Blood oxygen saturation falls because less oxygen diffuses into the lungs.
- Hypemic hypoxia
- Blood cannot carry normal oxygen amounts despite adequate lung oxygen. Causes include anaemia, carbon monoxide binding haemoglobin, and blood loss.
- Stagnant hypoxia
- Oxygen delivery fails because circulation is inadequate, such as in heart failure, shock, or extreme G-loading. Blood oxygen content may be normal but flow to tissues is insufficient.
- Histotoxic hypoxia
- Cells cannot use delivered oxygen, as with cyanide poisoning or alcohol intoxication. Blood and circulation may be normal but cellular respiration is blocked.
- Time of useful consciousness
- The interval after loss of oxygen at altitude during which a person can still take correct protective action. It shortens rapidly as altitude increases.
- Somatogravic illusion
- Linear acceleration is misperceived as a pitch-up attitude, often during takeoff or go-around. The pilot may push forward, worsening a low-altitude situation.
- Somatogyral illusion
- After sustained rotation stops, the semicircular canals signal continued turning. The pilot may perceive motion opposite to actual, leading to incorrect control inputs.
- Leans illusion
- A false sensation of bank after a coordinated turn is corrected. The pilot perceives the aircraft as banking the opposite way and may re-enter the turn.
- Black-hole approach
- At night with no ground lighting before the runway, the runway appears closer and higher than it is. Pilots tend to fly a low approach and may undershoot.
- Runway width illusion
- A narrower-than-usual runway makes the aircraft appear higher than actual, prompting a low approach. A wider runway produces the opposite effect.
- Hyperventilation
- Rapid deep breathing lowers carbon dioxide, causing dizziness, tingling, and confusion that mimic hypoxia. Treatment is slowed controlled breathing and reassurance.
- Decompression sickness
- Nitrogen bubbles form in tissues after rapid pressure decrease. Symptoms include joint pain, chest discomfort, and neurological deficits; treat with descent and 100 percent oxygen.
- G-LOC
- G-induced loss of consciousness occurs when sustained high positive Gz reduces cerebral blood flow below consciousness threshold. Recovery follows G reduction but may include convulsions.
- A-LOC
- Almost loss of consciousness is a greyout or degraded cognition state before full G-LOC. The pilot may still act but with impaired judgement and vision.
- Semicircular canals
- Inner-ear structures sensing angular acceleration in three planes. They do not sense steady rotation and can produce false sensations during prolonged turns.
- Otolith organs
- Inner-ear structures sensing linear acceleration and gravity direction. They cannot distinguish gravity from acceleration, causing somatogravic illusions.
- Somatosensory system
- Receptors in skin, muscles, and joints sensing pressure and position. In flight, seat pressure can create false sensations of pitch or bank.
- Visual system in flight
- Vision provides the dominant orientation cue in daylight and VMC. At night, peripheral vision is poor and visual illusions are more likely.
- Carbon monoxide hypoxia
- Carbon monoxide binds haemoglobin far more strongly than oxygen, reducing oxygen delivery. Symptoms include headache and confusion; treat with 100 percent oxygen and descent.
- Cabin altitude
- The pressure altitude inside a pressurised aircraft cabin. It is normally kept below about 8,000 ft but rises if pressurisation fails.
- Rapid decompression
- A sudden loss of cabin pressure causing explosive fog, temperature drop, and noise. Crew must don oxygen masks first, then descend to a safe altitude.
- Slow decompression
- A gradual cabin pressure loss that may go unnoticed. Symptoms include ear discomfort and hypoxia; the oxygen mask and descent are required.
- Stress response
- The body's reaction to threat, releasing adrenaline and cortisol. It raises heart rate and alertness but can narrow attention and impair complex judgement.
- Situation awareness
- Perception and understanding of relevant elements in the environment and projection of their future state. Loss of it is a common precursor to accidents.
- Crew resource management
- Training and procedures for using all available resources, including crew, automation, and information. It targets communication, leadership, and decision-making.
- Authority gradient
- The perceived difference in power between crew members. Too steep suppresses challenge; too flat causes indecision. Optimal is a balanced gradient.
- Sterile flight deck
- A rule prohibiting non-essential conversation and activity during critical phases such as taxi, takeoff, approach, and landing. It reduces distraction and error.
- Error chain
- A sequence of linked errors and latent conditions leading to an accident. Breaking any link in the chain can prevent the outcome.
- Swiss cheese model
- An accident model where multiple defensive layers each have holes. An accident occurs when holes align across all layers simultaneously.
- Fatigue
- A physiological state of reduced alertness and performance from sleep loss or prolonged duty. It impairs reaction time and judgement similarly to alcohol.
- Circadian rhythm
- An internal roughly 24-hour cycle regulating sleep and alertness. It desynchronises with rapid time-zone changes, causing jet lag.
- Confirmation bias
- The tendency to seek and interpret information supporting an existing belief. In aviation, it can prevent recognition of a developing emergency.