Human Factors practice questions

Answer: A) The Valsalva maneuver

• ACorrect. Gently blowing against closed nostrils equalizes pressure.
• BIncorrect. That can cause hyperventilation.
• CIncorrect. That may help briefly but isn't the technique.
• DIncorrect. That doesn't open the Eustachian tube.

Answer: A) Adequate rest

• ACorrect. Rest and sleep are the cure; don't fly while fatigued.
• BIncorrect. This only masks fatigue.
• CIncorrect. This does not cure fatigue.
• DIncorrect. This worsens it.

Answer: B) Flying a lower approach, because the airplane seems higher than it actually is

Over featureless terrain such as water, snow or darkened areas, the airplane can seem higher than it actually is. A pilot who doesn't recognize this flies a dangerously low approach (AIM 8-1-5).

• AIncorrect. This is the opposite effect. Featureless terrain makes the airplane seem higher, not lower.
• BCorrect. AIM 8-1-5 explains that with no ground features, such as over water, darkened areas or snow, the aircraft can seem higher than it actually is. A pilot who doesn't recognize this flies a lower approach.
• CIncorrect. This describes the runway width illusion, not the featureless terrain illusion asked about in the stem.
• DIncorrect. This describes the false horizon illusion, which affects attitude rather than height judgment over featureless terrain.

Answer: A) Pilot fitness to fly

• ACorrect. Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue and Emotion/Eating.
• BIncorrect. That uses other checklists.
• CIncorrect. This is a personal checklist.
• DIncorrect. This is a personal checklist.

Answer: C) It decreases as altitude increases

• AIncorrect. It depends strongly on altitude.
• BIncorrect. Higher altitudes shorten it.
• CCorrect. At higher altitudes, hypoxia acts faster.
• DIncorrect. It's most critical at high altitudes.

Answer: D) Likelihood and severity

• AIncorrect. These may affect risk but aren't the matrix factors.
• BIncorrect. These are flight parameters.
• CIncorrect. These are planning factors.
• DCorrect. Together they determine risk level.

Answer: B) The leans

• AIncorrect. Autokinesis is apparent motion of a light.
• BCorrect. The inner ear adapts to the turn, then senses the rollout as a bank.
• CIncorrect. That is a focus problem.
• DIncorrect. A false horizon is a visual illusion.

Answer: C) Hypoxic hypoxia

• AIncorrect. That results from poor circulation.
• BIncorrect. That results from reduced blood oxygen-carrying ability.
• CCorrect. Low partial pressure of oxygen limits oxygen intake.
• DIncorrect. That results from cells unable to use oxygen.

Answer: C) Consciously slow the breathing rate, or talk aloud

Lightheadedness and tingling from rapid breathing under stress are signs of hyperventilation. The fix is to consciously slow the breathing rate (or talk aloud or breathe into a bag) so carbon dioxide returns to normal.

• AIncorrect. This is the remedy for hypoxia. These symptoms come from breathing too fast, which drives too much carbon dioxide out of the body, not from a lack of oxygen.
• BIncorrect. This is the response to suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, not to symptoms caused by rapid breathing.
• CCorrect. These are signs of hyperventilation. Slowing the breathing rate, breathing into a bag, or talking aloud lets carbon dioxide return to normal, and the symptoms usually fade within a few minutes.
• DIncorrect. Breathing harder drives out even more carbon dioxide and makes hyperventilation worse.

Answer: B) Empty-field myopia

Empty-field myopia is nearsightedness caused by having nothing to focus on, such as above haze or at night. The eyes relax to about 10–30 feet, so distant traffic is hard to see. Active scanning counters it.

• AIncorrect. Autokinesis is when a stationary light seems to move after you stare at it in the dark. It is not about where the eyes focus.
• BCorrect. When there is nothing specific to focus on, the eyes relax to a comfortable focal distance of about 10–30 feet. This is induced nearsightedness, and it makes distant aircraft hard to detect. Effective scanning helps prevent it.
• CIncorrect. The night blind spot comes from the cone-filled fovea, which sees poorly in darkness, so objects looked at directly can disappear. It is not a relaxation of focus.
• DIncorrect. A false horizon is a visual illusion where sloping clouds or ground lights are mistaken for the real horizon. It affects attitude orientation, not focal distance.