FAA Private Pilot Helicopter (PRH)Human FactorsMedium
While troubleshooting an intermittent caution light during approach, a helicopter pilot becomes so absorbed in the problem that he fails to notice the helicopter has drifted below the intended glidepath and the rotor RPM has decayed slightly. This scenario best illustrates which human factors hazard?
- AConfirmation bias
- BSomatogravic illusion
- CHyperventilation
- DTask saturation (channelized attention)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Task saturation (channelized attention)
Channelized attention, a form of task saturation, occurs when a pilot focuses so intently on one task or problem that awareness of other critical instruments or flight parameters is lost, leading to unnoticed deviations such as altitude loss or RPM decay.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Confirmation bias is seeking information that confirms existing beliefs, not attentional narrowing.
- B. Somatogravic illusion is a vestibular effect from acceleration, unrelated to task fixation.
- C. Hyperventilation is a physiological breathing response to stress, not an attention issue.
Task Saturation / Channelized Attention
A condition where a pilot focuses so intently on one task that attention to other critical instruments, traffic, or flight parameters is neglected.
- Also called tunnel vision or channelized attention
- Common during troubleshooting, radio tuning, or checklist tasks
- Countered by disciplined scanning and prioritizing 'aviate, navigate, communicate'
Memory trick: Tunnel vision on one bulb while the whole dashboard goes dark.