Viewing page 13 of 134

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

-3-

the pilots themselves examples of actual critical incidents in their airline flying experience and their behavior in those situations. The assumption underlying the "critical-incident technique" is that the critical requirements of the superior airline pilot are much more likely to be determined from an analysis of pilot behavior in critical situations in airline flying rather than in more commonplace and everyday situations. In other words, significant differences between pilots probably are revealed more by their differential behavior in critical situations, and, contrariwise, smaller differences are revealed in normal, uneventful situations. A second purpose of the pilot interview was to obtain the opinions and attitudes of airlines pilots towards present methods of evaluation and to obtain their suggestions for improving them. Thirdly, it was hoped that in an interview pilots would express their opinions as to what factors or conditions contribute to making the pilot's job more difficult, and, hence, make airlines flying less safe. Finally, the interview was used to obtain information pertaining to pilot fatigue.

2. Questions and Forms. On the basis of a few preliminary interviews during which different kinds of questions were tested out on several airline pilots and Civil Aeronautics Administration Inspectors, the following nine questions were devised for the standardized interviews with airline pilots:

QUESTION #1: "Probably all pilots who have flown a lot have done something at one time or another that got them into an uncomfortable situation or even a near accident. We would like to get from each pilot several examples of such things that he has done. First, could you describe the more recent situation in which you did something like this and tell me just what you did?"

Alternative Question (Alt. #1): "Well, perhaps you could recall the most recent incident where you observed some other pilot do something that got him in such a spot."

QUESTION #2 (Captains): "Now, I would like for you to recall the last time you had to take over the controls from a co-pilot because you felt the situation was pretty critical. Could you describe that situation and tell me just what the co-pilot did or might have done if you hadn't taken over?"

(Co-pilots): "Now, I would like for you to recall the last time the captain you were flying with took over the controls from you because he felt the situation was pretty critical. Could you describe this situation and tell me just what you did or what he thought you might have done if he hadn't taken over?"

Alternative Question (Alt. #2)(Captains): "Well, then, perhaps you could tell me about the last time that you felt that the situation was so critical that you would not have wanted the average co-pilot to fly the airplane. Could you describe that situation and tell me what unsafe act an average co-pilot might have done in that situation?"

Alternative Question (Alt. #2)(Co-pilots): "Well, then, perhaps you could tell me about the last time that you felt that the situation was