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Safe Landings: December 2013
Expectation Bias
An expectation of what we think will happen has a tendency to alter what we subsequently observe or hear. This expectation bias is often exacerbated by confirmation bias, i.e., being focused on information that confirms one’s interpretation of a situation while giving less weight to that which contradicts it. The following ASRS reports show how mistakes can be made when Pilots and Controllers are carried along by familiar cues, slip into habit patterns, and become less aware of changes to what is “expected.”
“I Absolutely… Heard Our Callsign”
Circumstances confirmed this CRJ900 crew’s expectations to the point where the First Officer “absolutely” believed that their callsign was given with a takeoff clearance. The Captain, also hearing what he expected to hear, started to taxi across the hold short line before a voice from the Tower raised a red flag.
What's Up - May 2013
Manners May Be Free… But…
By Larry Shapiro
They do have value. I must say thanks to all of you that took some of your valuable time to express your appreciation and offered comments on my “Love Stories” in last month’s issue of In Flight USA. Wow, I was knocked off my “throne” and I am truly humbled by your response. I was amazed that my love stories made it all around the world (I’m blushing) so, here’s a few follow up reactions to share.
A Love Story…A Real Love Story (Continued)
More keys – shock, that’s the only word I can think of. Two more heroes came forward to talk about giving me their keys. One has already done it and the other is still saying farewell and hugging his airplane good-bye. Wow! Bravo, not to me, but to them. I’m so sorry I didn’t finish medical school so I could prescribe some ice cream and candy for them. Come to think of it, I never even started medical school.
Editorial: Take Command
By Ed Downs
Sometimes you get it right, and sometimes not. In the March issue of In Flight USA, this writer addressed the “sequester,” with threats to close FAA control towers and reduce other services related to flying safety. At that time sequester details were not known and I wrote, “Now, to be realistic, these threats will probably not actually come to pass as the calamitous results of fatal budget cuts. Even as this is being written, announcements have been made that the elected heroes of our sagging republic are going to hold last minute negotiations. This meeting will basically conclude that “the other guy” is at fault for current circumstances and nothing will be done, with current economic problems simply being put off to another day.”
Light Sport Flying With In Flight USA - May 2011
Is Your Tower Asleep at the Mike?
By Ed Downs
The answer to the question posed in the title of this month’s column might be, Sport Pilots don’t care. To be sure, recent weeks have set the media ablaze with stories of fear and trepidation, as brave, but apparently helpless, pilots are forced to land their airplanes without the critical and essential words from the FAA of “cleared to land.” Media experts (really?) would have the general passenger public believe that landing without a tower in operation to utter those empowering words, “cleared to land,” leaves all aboard in deadly peril. Okay, perhaps this writer is being a bit dramatic, but having a general belief that landings can not be made safely without a tower clearance does not do recreational flying any good from a PR standpoint, when citizens discover that their local community airport is “uncontrolled.”