Human error, often stemming from subtle fatigue, distraction, or misinterpretation, is a pervasive cause of aviation incidents and close calls, affecting both pilots and air traffic controllers.
The author's personal experience with a pilot deviation highlights how even minor misreadings and cognitive biases can lead to mistakes, underscoring the importance of recognizing internal "red flags."
Traditional pre-flight self-assessment checklists are often insufficient for detecting nuanced states of fatigue or distraction, necessitating a deeper, more intuitive self-awareness from pilots.
Recent high-profile near collisions at major airports (JFK, Boston, Austin) serve as stark reminders that human fallibility remains a critical factor in aviation safety, regardless of professional experience.
“November 1750 Whiskey, copy this number down and call when on the ground. Possible pilot deviation.”
Yup. The dreaded words, and just a couple of weeks before the 10-year anniversary of getting my private certificate. It happened earlier this year, departing VanNuys (KVNY) in California.
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Ben Younger is a TV and film writer/director, avid motorcyclist and surfer—but it’s being a pilot that he treats as a second profession. Find him on Instagram @thisisbenyounger.
