ATPL Human Factors (CAA) case studies
ATPL Human Factors · Put your knowledge to work in context.
ATPL Human Factors - also listed as Human Performance and Limitations - is the ground-school subject that examines how the human pilot performs, fails and recovers within the aviation system. It is taken by candidates working toward a commercial or airline transport pilot licence under EASA and similar regulatory frameworks, and it is usually studied alongside Air Law, Meteorology, Navigation and Principles of Flight. The ATPL Human Factors case studies are 5 cases and about 4,369 words.
1Fourth Sector into Minimums
Two pilots are on the fourth sector of a regional-jet duty period that began with a 05:10 report. Planned duty is 13 hours.
865 words, about 4 min2Head Cold, Sedating Antihistamine, and a Two-Sector Duty
A first officer due to operate two sectors in a pressurized turboprop reports at 06:45 with nasal congestion, a sore throat and a temperature of 37.9°C. He took a sedating antihistamine at 22:00 and another dose at 06:00 because he felt worse.
876 words, about 4 min3VNAV Disconnect and Traffic at 7,500 Feet
During arrival at a busy airport, ATC clears a twin-jet: 'Descend via the ROKAN TWO arrival, cross ROKAN at 7,000 ft, 250 knots.' The crew sets 7,000 ft in the MCP altitude window and arms VNAV. The first officer is heads-down in the FMC because the runway has just changed; the captain is flying.
833 words, about 4 min4VFR into a Haze-Filled Valley with a Passenger Who Cannot Be Late
A private pilot with 210 hours, no instrument rating, plans a 55-minute VFR flight to a mountain-valley airport. Forecast: broken cloud at 4,000 ft, scattered at 2,500 ft, visibility 8 km in haze, mountain ridges at 5,500 ft.
889 words, about 4 min5Expired Holdover Time and a Duty-Time Deadline
Light snow and -2°C at a northern airport. A narrow-body has been de-iced with Type I followed by Type IV; the holdover time is 22 minutes.
906 words, about 5 min