Aviation operators (pilots, ATCOs) decision-making process

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate and evaluate the subjective decision-making of pilots during final approach with varying degrees of experience for landing and go-around.

Design/methodology/approach

In this research, the “Lorenz Attractor” was modified and used to model the subjective decision-making of pilots during the final approach. For landing and go-around situations, “hesitation frequency” and “decision-making time” were calculated for the subjective decision-making of pilots.

Findings

In this research, the modified Chaotic Lorenz Model was used on MATLAB with varying degrees of experience, namely, student pilots, less-skilled pilots, experienced pilots and well-experienced pilots. Based on the outcomes, the less-skilled pilot needs nearly four times more decision-making time on landing or go-around compared to the well-experienced pilot during the final approach.

Practical implications

Operators (pilots, air traffic controllers) need to make critical and timely decisions in a highly complex work environment, which is influenced by several external elements such as experience level and human factors. According to NASA, 80% of aviation accidents occur due to human errors specifically over the course of the aviation decision-making process in dynamic circumstances. Due to the consequences of this research the operators' training should be redesigned by assisting flight instructors on the weaknesses of pilots.

Originality/value

This research explores the endogenous dynamics of the pilot decision-making process by applying a novel “Chaotic Lorenz Model” on MATLAB. In addition, the operator's total decision time formula was improved by including the decision reviewing time and external factors. Moreover, subjective decision-making model created by the current authors and Wicken's information model were modified to the highly automated systems.

Citation

Kale, U., Alharasees, O., Rohacs, J. and Rohacs, D. (2023), "Aviation operators (pilots, ATCOs) decision-making process", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 95 No. 3, pp. 442-451. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-02-2022-0053