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Hiding in Plain Sight

After you fly enough approaches, they all start looking pretty similar. Is that your brain working for or against you? Or both?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Pilots often develop cognitive biases, like expectation bias, by assuming similarities between approach procedures, which can lead to overlooking critical, subtle differences.
  • Examples such as the Gunnison GPS-B (extreme descent angle requiring circling-only) and Teterboro ILS Z (mandatory "at" or "at-or-below" altitudes, speed restrictions) highlight how minor deviations from standard procedures can pose significant operational challenges.
  • To counteract complacency, pilots should meticulously review approach charts, actively seeking out differences from the norm rather than just confirming expected information.
See a mistake? Contact us.

We recently heard an eye-opening tale of an approach into Gunnison, Colorado (KGUC), in which a jet crew flew the GPS-B approach in instrument conditions with a planned landing into the wind on Runway 24, but found themselves unexpectedly struggling with the approach. At first glance the approach looked to the crew to be a fairly typical non-precision RNAV approach, but what do you think? Pause here and see if you catch any subtle warning flags before continuing. 

We know that every instrument procedure must be unique, since the specifics of the airport, traffic flow, and obstacle environment are all unique. However, in practice many of the approaches appear similar at first glance—and many times they are indeed more similar than different. 

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