FAA Commercial Pilot Airplane (CAX)Human Factors and ADMMedium
A commercial pilot is en route to a business meeting and encounters worsening weather ahead. Despite briefed alternates and a personal minimum to divert if visibility drops below 3 miles, the pilot presses on because 'we're already most of the way there' and the original plan called for landing at the destination. This behavior best illustrates which hazard to sound decision making?
- AConfirmation bias
- BTask saturation
- CResignation hazardous attitude
- DPlan continuation bias
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Plan continuation bias
Plan continuation bias (often called 'get-there-itis') is the tendency to continue with an original plan despite changing conditions that should trigger a new decision, such as diverting when a personal minimum is exceeded.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Confirmation bias is selectively interpreting information to support an existing belief, not simply continuing a plan.
- B. Task saturation refers to being overwhelmed by workload, not a bias toward completing an original plan.
- C. Resignation reflects giving up control ('why bother'), not stubbornly sticking to a plan.
Plan Continuation Bias
The tendency to continue an original plan of action even when circumstances suggest changing course, often driven by a desire to reach the destination.
- Also called 'get-there-itis'
- Increases with sunk time/cost invested in the flight
- Countered by pre-set personal minimums and willingness to divert
Memory trick: Almost there is not the same as safely there.