CHapter 8 - Aerospace Psychology

Abstract

This chapter discusses aerospace psychology. It involves a discussion of the perceptual and cognitive factors involved in flying an airplane, which are complicated by problems of complexity and interactivity. This chapter begins by presenting a broad model of the flight task, written from a perceptual-cognitive perspective and then describes in detail certain key areas where the study of perception and cognitive psychology has provided insights to the task of controlling the aircraft, whether from within the cockpit, the pilot, or from the ground, the controller. This chapter describes only a superficial tour of the relevant areas of application of perceptual and cognitive theory to profound and complex problems of four-dimensional aircraft control, neglecting in particular many fascinating domains in some of the more cognitive areas related to decision making and problem solving. Finally, understanding the way the pilot manages and schedules tasks can provide an important foundation for one major component of pilot training in crew resource management.