An increasing amount of instrument flying is done using technologically advanced airplanes and sophisticated avionics. Correct use of automation improves safety immensely by giving pilots the time to monitor systems, gather information, and plan ahead. But researchers have found that as a group we do not use automation effectively. Automation presents additional challenges. Over reliance or incorrect use can quickly get us in trouble. To take advantage of the benefits of automation, a pilot must use it at the correct time and have a strategy to maintain proficiency.
Automation Awry
Key Takeaways:
- While automation significantly enhances aviation safety when used correctly, pilots often misuse it or become over-reliant, leading to dangerous situations like loss of control or spatial disorientation.
- Effective automation use requires understanding its four progressive levels and knowing when to adjust them; lower levels are critical for rapid inputs or unexpected events, while higher levels demand extensive pre-planning.
- Over-reliance on automation can degrade manual flying skills, necessitating frequent and recent practice across all flight envelopes to maintain pilot proficiency and ensure safety when automation fails or needs to be disengaged.
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