Subscribe
The latest psychology and neuroscience discoveries.
My Account
  • Mental Health
  • Social Psychology
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Neuroscience
  • About
No Result
View All Result
PsyPost
PsyPost
No Result
View All Result
Home Exclusive Aviation Psychology and Human Factors

Unpredictable simulator training can improve pilots’ responses to surprising situations in-flight

by Eric W. Dolan
July 5, 2018
in Aviation Psychology and Human Factors, Cognitive Science
(Photo credit: Monika Wisniewska)

(Photo credit: Monika Wisniewska)

Share on TwitterShare on Facebook
Follow PsyPost on Google News

New aviation psychology research provides evidence that pilots’ responses to surprises can be improved through a particular type of simulator training. The findings suggest that predictable training scenarios are insufficient to prepare pilots for unexpected situations in-flight.

“Our latest study, recently published in Human Factors, shows promising effects of unpredictability and variability in simulator training. It seems that pilots trained in this manner build better mental models, which prevents confusion and improves performance in surprise situations,” explained Annemarie Landman of Delft University of Technology, the corresponding author of the study.

“The topic of surprise in flight crew is relevant right now, because aviation safety organisations have recommended that pilots are trained for surprise situations, starting in 2019.”

“In certain recent accidents, it seems that surprise severely disrupted the crews’ performance,” Landman said. “Perhaps these accidents could have been prevented if the pilots were better trained to deal with the aspect of surprise. However, it’s not yet clear what kind of training would be effective. So to get a better grip on this issue, we created a conceptual model of startle and surprise.”

Prior to their simulator study, Landman and her colleagues reviewed previous research on the topic to better conceptualize what was meant by a “surprise” in the context of aviation. The key to a surprise, they found, was to set up a situation that mismatched with a previously learned structure of events.

“Surprise is like a warning signal to indicate that there is a mismatch between your understanding of a situation, and the real situation. It pushes you to investigate and improve your understanding, so you know how to respond,” Landman explained to PsyPost.

“There are a couple of issues that make it difficult to solve a surprise. One problem is that you rely — in part — on your understanding of a situation in order to interpret, or ‘frame’, what is going on. Without this perspective, you may, for instance, stare at the instruments without them making any sense to you.”

“Another problem is that stress typically impairs your ability to get a good perspective on the situation,” Landman continued. “So if you’re highly surprised as well as stressed out by an emergency event, you can become ‘stuck’ in your thinking and get completely confused.”

“Add to this that airplanes are extremely reliable, so when an issue does happen, it is likely more surprising than it used to be. Airplanes are also highly automated, which can make it more difficult for pilots to suddenly take manual control when this is needed.”

In their simulator study, Landman and her colleagues trained 20 airline pilots to perform some maneuvers in an unfamiliar aircraft. The researchers found that pilots trained in a more unpredictable manner used throttle and airspeed more effectively in a surprise situation compared to pilots trained in a more predictable manner.

“The research points to several possible training approaches. On the one hand, pilot understanding of the aircraft and of emergency events can be improved through simulator practice. This experience can be useful to ‘switch’ quickly and effectively to a new understanding in a surprise situation,” Landman said.

“Also, the detrimental effects of stress and the loss of perspective in an emergency situation can perhaps be countered with stress regulation techniques, or techniques to analyse the situation in a step-wise and structured manner.”

The study, “Training Pilots for Unexpected Events: A Simulator Study on the Advantage of Unpredictable and Variable Scenarios“, was authored by Annemarie Landman, Peter van Oorschot, M. M. (René) van Paassen, Eric L. Groen, Adelbert W. Bronkhorst, and Max Mulder.

The review article, “Dealing With Unexpected Events on the Flight Deck: A Conceptual Model of Startle and Surprise“, was authored by Annemarie Landman, Eric L. Groen, M. M. (René) van Paassen, Adelbert W. Bronkhorst, and Max Mulder.

TweetSendScanShareSendPinShareShareShareShareShare

RELATED

Scientists find genetic basis for how much people enjoy music
Cognitive Science

Is humor inherited? Twin study suggests the ability to be funny may not run in the family

July 10, 2025

A first-of-its-kind study set out to discover whether being funny is something you inherit. By testing twins on their joke-making skills, researchers found that your sense of humor might have less to do with DNA than you'd think.

Read moreDetails
Even in healthy adults, high blood sugar levels are linked to impaired brain function
Memory

Neuroscientists decode how people juggle multiple items in working memory

July 8, 2025

New neuroscience research shows how the brain decides which memories deserve more attention. By tracking brain activity, scientists found that the frontal cortex helps direct limited memory resources, allowing people to remember high-priority information more precisely than less relevant details.

Read moreDetails
New study uncovers a surprising effect of cold-water immersion
Cognitive Science

New study uncovers a surprising effect of cold-water immersion

July 8, 2025

Cold-water immersion increases energy expenditure—but it may also drive people to eat more afterward. A study in Physiology & Behavior found participants consumed significantly more food following cold exposure, possibly due to internal cooling effects that continue after leaving the water.

Read moreDetails
Positive attitudes toward AI linked to problematic social media use
Cognitive Science

People with higher cognitive ability have weaker moral foundations, new study finds

July 7, 2025

A large study has found that individuals with greater cognitive ability are less likely to endorse moral values such as compassion, fairness, loyalty, and purity. The results point to a consistent negative relationship between intelligence and moral intuitions.

Read moreDetails
These common sounds can impair your learning, according to new psychology research
Cognitive Science

These common sounds can impair your learning, according to new psychology research

July 4, 2025

Your brain’s ancient defense system might be sabotaging your test scores. New research suggests our "behavioral immune system," which makes us subconsciously alert to signs of illness, can be triggered by coughs and sniffles.

Read moreDetails
From fireflies to brain cells: Unraveling the complex web of synchrony in networks
Addiction

Understanding “neuronal ensembles” could revolutionize addiction treatment

July 3, 2025

The same brain system that rewards you for a delicious meal is hijacked by drugs like fentanyl. A behavioral neuroscientist explains how understanding the specific memories behind these rewards is the key to treating addiction without harming our essential survival instincts.

Read moreDetails
Scientists just uncovered a surprising illusion in how we remember time
Memory

Scientists just uncovered a surprising illusion in how we remember time

July 3, 2025

Our perception of time is more fragile than we think. Scientists have uncovered a powerful illusion where repeated exposure to information makes us misremember it as happening much further in the past, significantly distorting our mental timelines.

Read moreDetails
Peppermint tea boosts memory and attention—but why?
Cognitive Science

Peppermint tea boosts memory and attention—but why?

July 2, 2025

Can a cup of peppermint tea sharpen your mind? A new study suggests it can—but not in the way scientists expected. Improved memory and attention followed the tea, but increased brain blood flow wasn't the reason why.

Read moreDetails

SUBSCRIBE

Go Ad-Free! Click here to subscribe to PsyPost and support independent science journalism!

STAY CONNECTED

LATEST

Dementia: Your lifetime risk may be far greater than previously thought

Psychopathic tendencies may be associated with specific hormonal patterns

Scientists use deep learning to uncover hidden motor signs of neurodivergence

Study finds “Anxious Mondays” linked to long-term stress and heart health risks in older adults

Adults treated with psychostimulants for ADHD show increased brain surface complexity, study finds

Is humor inherited? Twin study suggests the ability to be funny may not run in the family

Testosterone shifts political preferences in weakly affiliated Democratic men, study finds

Can sunshine make you happier? A massive study offers a surprising answer

         
       
  • Contact us
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms and Conditions
[Do not sell my information]

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Subscribe
  • My Account
  • Cognitive Science Research
  • Mental Health Research
  • Social Psychology Research
  • Drug Research
  • Relationship Research
  • About PsyPost
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy