Understanding Hazardous Attitudes
Velázquez, Jonathan, "Behavioral Traps in Flight Crew-Related 14 CFR Part 121 Airline Accidents" (2016). Dissertations and Theses. 193. https://commons.erau.edu/edt/193
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Scholarly Commons
Citation
The study of hazardous attitudes in
aviation began in the early 1980s at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
(ERAU) as a direct outcome of the late 1970s work on pilot decision making from
Jensen and Benel (Martinussen & Hunter, 2010). Berlin et al. (1982)
developed a training curriculum that addressed judgment and decision making. Berlin found that physiological,
psychological, and external pressures influence every decision a pilot makes.
The study also found that a need for a pilot to maintain a self-image can
impair pilot judgment
Overview of
Hazardous Attitudes with the Appropriate Antidote
Attitude Characteristics Antidote
Anti-authority Pilots with this attitude
dislike following the “Follow
the rules;
rules or having
someone else tell them what to they
are usually
do. To these
pilots, rules and procedures are a right.”
waste of time and
effort.
Impulsivity This attitude belongs
to pilots who feel they “Not
so fast; think
must do something,
anything, and immediately. first.”
They seldom take a
moment to reflect or
evaluate all the
possibilities. Their actions are
the result of
whatever comes first to mind.
Macho Macho pilots
are risk takers, people “Taking
chances is
overconfident
about their skills and constantly foolish”
proving that they
are better than everybody else.
To them, they are
the best pilots out there.
Invulnerability Similar to Macho-type pilots,
these pilots also “It
could happen to
take risks but
only because in their mind me.”
accidents happen to
others and not to them.
Resignation People with this attitude
feel they are incapable “I am
not helpless;
of making a
difference. Pilots with Resignation-type ;I
can make a
attitudes are
passive and inactive throughout their difference.”
flights. To these
pilots, when something bad happens
it is due to bad
luck or the fault of others; someone
else is
responsible.
Note. Adapted from
Jeppesen, 2013, p. 10-31.
In addition, hazardous attitudes were
a contributing factor in 86% of general aviation accidents that involved a
fatality (Wetmore & Lu, 2006). Wetmore & Lu (2005a
