PPL Human Performance and Limitations case studies
PPL Human Performance and Limitations · Put your knowledge to work in context.
Human Performance and Limitations (HPL) is the ground-school subject that explains how the human in the cockpit - not the aircraft - limits and shapes flight safety. It is a required knowledge area for the European PPL, and the same body of knowledge underpins ATPL and CPL training, so the material you learn here is reused throughout a professional career. The PPL Human Performance and Limitations case studies are 5 cases and about 2,459 words.
1Scuba Diving Before a Morning Flight
On Saturday afternoon, a private pilot completes three open-water scuba dives in one day: 18 m for 35 minutes, 15 m for 30 minutes, and 12 m for 25 minutes. The last dive surfaces at 13:00.
417 words, about 2 min2Night Take-off and a False Pitch-up Sensation
At 22:30 local time, a pilot departs a well-lit runway into a dark night with no visible horizon and scattered cloud at 4,000 ft. After lift-off he accelerates normally and at about 300 ft AGL begins to climb.
503 words, about 3 min3Deteriorating Weather and Passenger Pressure
A private pilot plans a 2-hour VFR cross-country flight with one passenger to a business meeting. The forecast shows a warm front with cloud bases at 2,000 ft and visibility 10 km, lowering to 1,200 ft and 5 km by late afternoon.
538 words, about 3 min4Fatigue Before a Night Cross-Country
A pilot has just finished a 10-hour shift as a warehouse supervisor, including 6 hours on his feet. He slept 4.5 hours the previous night because of a family issue.
509 words, about 3 min5A More Experienced Passenger Takes Over
A low-hours private pilot is flying a rented Cessna 172 with a friend who is a commercial pilot and flight instructor. The friend sits in the right seat.
492 words, about 2 min