AVIATION SAFETY AND PILOT CONTROL: UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING UNFAVORABLE PILOT-VEHICLE INTERACTIONS

Abstract

Unfavorable aircraft-pilot coupling (APC) events are rare, unexpected, and unintended excursions in aircraft attitude and flight path caused by anomalous interactions between the aircraft and the pilot. Although it is often difficult to pinpoint the cause of specific APC events, a majority of severe APC events result from the deficiencies in the design of the aircraft, especially with regard to the flight control system (FCS), that result in adverse coupling of the pilot with the aircraft. APC events can result if the pilot is operating with a behavioral mode that is inappropriate for the task at hand, and such events are properly ascribed to pilot error. However, the study committee believes that most severe APC events attributed to pilot error are the result of adverse APC that misleads the pilot into taking actions that contribute to the severity of the event. The Committee on Effects of Aircraft-Pilot Coupling on Flight Safety was established by the National Research Council at the request of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The committee evaluated the current state of knowledge about adverse APC and processes that may be used to eliminate it from military and commercial aircraft. The committee analyzed the information it collected and developed a set of findings and recommendations. It concluded that in the short term the risk posed by adverse APC could be reduced by increased awareness of APC possibilities and more disciplined application of existing tools and capabilities throughout the development, test, and certification process.