Human Performance and Limitations
The human as a system
Understand the sensory, cognitive and motor components of pilot performance: vision (rods versus cones, night adaptation, empty-field myopia, the black-hole approach), hearing and the effects of noise, and the vestibular system, including somatogravic and somatogyral illusions. Learn the difference between spatial disorientation and visual illusion, and the standard response: trust the instruments.
Cognition and workload
Know the limits of attention, the concept of situational awareness and its loss, and the effect of workload and stress on decision-making. Study the common decision biases (confirmation, plan continuation, sunk cost) and the meaning of the hazardous attitudes in the standard antidote framework. Understand communication and crew coordination, and the role of checklists and standard operating procedures.
Physiology
Learn hypoxia (hypoxic, hypemic, stagnant, histotoxic), its signs and the time of useful consciousness at altitude, plus hyperventilation and its confusion with hypoxia. Know the effects of carbon monoxide, alcohol, fatigue, dehydration, and medication. Understand decompression sickness and the rules on flying after diving, and the effect of cold and heat on performance.
Traps
Questions often test whether a symptom is hypoxia or hyperventilation, and whether the correct action is oxygen or controlled breathing. Another trap is confusing the illusions (somatogravic versus somatogyral) and the direction of the false sensation.
Worked example
In a sustained acceleration on take-off, the pilot feels a pitch-up and pushes forward: this is the somatogravic illusion. Rule of thumb: if the seat of your pants disagrees with the instruments, believe the instruments and cross-check.