ATPL Human Performance study guide
ATPL Human Performance · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Human Performance is one of the fourteen theoretical knowledge subjects in the EASA ATPL syllabus, and it is also examined in the equivalent national systems that follow the same subject structure. It is not a flying-skills test. The ATPL Human Performance study guide has 9 sections and about 2,967 words.
01Human Factors: Basic Concepts
Human Factors: Basic Concepts tests whether you can define the person-centred approach to aviation safety and apply the SHEL/SHELL model to real interfaces, rather than recite psychology. Expect questions on the liveware-centred model, mismatches at interfaces, safety culture and the difference between human factors and ergonomics.
327 words, about 2 min02Basic Aviation Physiology and Health Maintenance
Basic Aviation Physiology and Health Maintenance tests the body's response to altitude, pressure change, oxygen and self-medication, and the rules that keep a pilot fit to fly. Expect gas laws, hypoxia, hyperventilation, decompression sickness, barotrauma, vision and fitness or medical limits.
357 words, about 2 min03Basic Aviation Psychology
Basic Aviation Psychology tests how individual differences, motivation, learning and arousal shape pilot performance and training. Questions often ask which psychological concept explains a training or crew behaviour, and which intervention is appropriate.
328 words, about 2 min04Human Error and Reliability
Human Error and Reliability tests whether you can classify errors, explain how defences fail and describe error-management and safety-culture responses. Expect distinctions between slips, lapses, mistakes and violations, plus Reason's model and TEM.
326 words, about 2 min05Human Information Processing: Sensation, Perception and Cognition
Human Information Processing tests how sensation becomes perception, how attention and memory limit performance, and how vestibular and visual illusions cause spatial disorientation. Expect applied questions on illusions and on cognitive limits in the cockpit.
332 words, about 2 min06Communication and Coordination
Communication and Coordination tests the communication loop, standard phraseology, readback, assertiveness and crew coordination. Questions often present a misheard clearance or a steep authority gradient and ask for the safest response.
300 words, about 2 min07Decision Making
Decision Making tests how pilots make choices under time pressure, uncertainty and risk, and how biases and situational awareness degrade judgement. Expect models such as FOR-DEC or DECIDE and questions on plan continuation.
331 words, about 2 min08Fatigue, Sleep and Circadian Rhythm
Fatigue, Sleep and Circadian Rhythm tests the physiology of sleep, the circadian clock, fatigue effects on performance and the countermeasures and regulations that manage risk. Expect questions on sleep debt, circadian lows, microsleeps and FRMS.
354 words, about 2 min09Stress and Stress Management
Stress and Stress Management tests the stress response, sources of stress in aviation, effects on performance and evidence-based coping. Questions often ask why a competent pilot makes a poor decision under pressure.
312 words, about 2 min