A2 CofC Human Factors & Situational Awareness

Question 1

What does 'situational awareness' mean in the context of drone operations?

Accepted Answer

Understanding what is happening around the drone, its current status, and what may happen next

Answer

The ability to see the drone at all times during flight

Answer

Knowing the exact GPS coordinates of the drone at all times

Answer

The legal requirement to maintain visual contact with the drone

Question 2

Which cognitive bias describes a pilot's tendency to continue a risky flight because they have already invested significant time and effort in planning it?

Accepted Answer

Sunk cost fallacy

Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Availability heuristic

Question 3

'Get-there-itis' (or press-on-itis) refers to which dangerous pilot tendency?

Accepted Answer

The urge to complete a flight despite warning signs suggesting it should be abandoned

Answer

Flying too fast in order to reach a destination quickly

Answer

Flying beyond visual line of sight without authorisation

Answer

Ignoring low battery warnings to finish the mission

Question 4

How does fatigue primarily affect a drone pilot's performance?

Accepted Answer

It increases reaction time and impairs decision-making capability

Answer

It improves focus by filtering out unnecessary distractions

Answer

It has minimal effect on experienced pilots with good muscle memory

Answer

It only affects physical operations, not cognitive tasks such as planning

Question 5

What is 'task saturation' in the context of drone operations?

Accepted Answer

When a pilot is overwhelmed with too many concurrent tasks, causing performance to degrade

Answer

When the drone's waypoint list is full and no more can be added

Answer

When a LiPo battery has been fully charged too many times and loses capacity

Answer

When the drone's sensors are receiving too much conflicting data

Question 6

The 'Swiss Cheese Model' of accident causation, developed by James Reason, describes:

Accepted Answer

Layered defence systems that, when their gaps align, allow accidents to occur

Answer

A training method using multiple independent instructors to reduce bias

Answer

A type of restricted airspace pattern used around aerodromes

Answer

The pattern of drone component failures that develop progressively over time

Question 7

What is the 'startle effect' in drone and aviation operations?

Accepted Answer

An involuntary, immediate reaction to an unexpected event that can temporarily impair performance

Answer

The unexpected activation of the drone's return-to-home failsafe function

Answer

The visual surprise caused by a drone unexpectedly entering another person's field of view

Answer

A notification system that alerts pilots to sudden airspace changes