FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Human Factors and CRMMedium
During a busy descent into a Class B airport, a first officer becomes so absorbed in reprogramming the FMS for a last-minute runway change that she fails to notice an altitude deviation the captain has already caught twice. Which human factors concept best explains the first officer's behavior?
- APlan continuation bias
- BConfirmation bias
- CTask saturation (channelized attention)
- DAutomation complacency
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Task saturation (channelized attention)
Task saturation, also called channelized attention, occurs when a pilot becomes so absorbed in one task (reprogramming the FMS) that attention narrows and other critical cues, such as an altitude deviation, are missed. This differs from confirmation bias (seeking data that confirms a belief) and automation complacency (over-trusting automation).
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Plan continuation bias is the tendency to continue an original plan despite changing conditions.
- B. Confirmation bias involves interpreting evidence to fit existing beliefs, not tunnel vision on a task.
- D. Automation complacency involves over-reliance on automated systems, not manual task fixation.
Task Saturation / Channelized Attention
A state where a crewmember becomes so absorbed in a single task that awareness of other critical information is lost.
- Also called 'tunneling' or channelized attention
- Common during high-workload phases like descent/approach
- Mitigated by task prioritization and workload management
Memory trick: Tunnel vision on ONE task blinds you to the rest of the cockpit.