FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATM)Human Factors and CRMMedium
An airline crew briefed a visual approach in clear weather, but conditions deteriorate to marginal visibility during descent. Despite several cues suggesting a missed approach is warranted, the crew continues because they have already committed significant time and effort to the approach as planned. This tendency to persist with an original plan despite changing conditions is known as:
- AGroupthink
- BConfirmation bias
- CNormalization of deviance
- DPlan continuation bias
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Plan continuation bias
Plan continuation bias is the tendency to continue with an original plan even when circumstances have changed and cues suggest a different course of action is warranted. It is a common contributing factor in approach-and-landing accidents.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Groupthink involves suppressing dissent to maintain group harmony, not persistence with a single plan.
- B. Confirmation bias involves selectively noticing information that supports existing beliefs, not simply continuing a plan.
- C. Normalization of deviance refers to gradually accepting unsafe practices as normal over repeated exposure.
Plan Continuation Bias
The tendency for a crew to continue an original plan of action even as conditions change and evidence suggests a change of plan is needed.
- Common factor in CFIT and unstable approach accidents
- Increases with time and resource invested in the plan
- Combated by setting hard decision gates (e.g., stabilized approach criteria)
Memory trick: Sunk cost in the sky—don't chase the plan off the runway.