A Model for Situational Awareness in Aircraft Upset Prevention and Recovery

Abstract

Situational awareness (SA) is defined as the perception of the elements in the environment within a volume of time and space, the comprehension of their meaning and the projection of their status in the near future. Pilots understand that to fly an aircraft safely and to make timely effective decisions requires a high level of SA – awareness of myriad elements including personal wellness, alertness, proficiency, aircraft capabilities, systems and fuel status, traffic, ATC instructions, and weather, etc. Through experience, pilots formulate mental models highly organized dynamic knowledge structures representing elements of the real world – which ease cognitive workload. A pilot, through experience develops a robust understanding of what a normal landing should look and feel like or how a specific emergency should be handled. Pilots must actively (e.g. through scan) be attentive to the elements and cues that will allow them to achieve their current objectives. Under routine circumstances, pilots have ample time to redirect SA attention requirements to suit changing priorities or goals. However, when an aircraft Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I) event such as an aircraft upset occurs or is imminent, not only must SA be high to start, but the pilot must be able to redirect SA tasks and take appropriate action within a “critical window” of safe recovery. This paper will address some of the elements of SA required for prevention of, and if necessary, recovery from an aircraft upset. These elements include knowledge of aircraft edge-of-envelope performance capabilities, awareness of current maneuvering potential and energy state, spatial and attitude awareness in a very dynamic environment, preexisting cognitive models (schemata or scripts) for correct recovery procedures for different types of upsets, including pattern matching for visual and other sensory cues in extremes of bank and pitch. Environmental cues, often changing rapidly, activate these mental models. The pilot must have an idea of how an upset and associated recovery will “look and feel.” Correct and timely action by the pilot while controlling acute stress levels hinges on high preexisting SA and rapid redirection of attention oriented to upset prevention and recovery. Extensive experience in the delivery of aircraft and simulator Upset Prevention and Recovery Training to military and corporate pilots and established industry human factors principles will be used to illustrate how a properly constructed training environment is critical for a pilot to formulate the basis for this type of SA. ______________________________________________