Introduction

Human factors is a broad field that examines the interaction
between people, machines, and the environment for the
purpose of improving performance and reducing errors. As
aircraft became more reliable and less prone to mechanical
failure, the percentage of accidents related to human factors
increased. Some aspect of human factors now accounts for
over 80% of all accidents. pilots who have a good
understanding of human factors are better equipped to plan
and execute a safe and uneventful flight.

Flying in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) can
result in sensations that are misleading to the body's sensory
system. A safe pilot needs to understand these sensations and
effectively counteract them. Instrument flying requires a pilot
to make decisions using all available resources.

The elements of human factors covered in this chapter
include sensory systems used for orientation, illusions in
flight, physiological and psychological factors, medical
factors, aeronautical decision-making, and crew resource
management (CRM).