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It is expected that this question might produce two things: first, it should tell us what characteristics, traits or abilities pilots feel are possessed by the good airline captain; secondly, it should tell us if they feel these other characteristics, traits or abilities should be evaluated.

QUESTION #6

"How would you change the present instrument check so that more of these desirable characteristics, traits and abilities of the good airline pilot could be evaluated?"

The purpose of this question is to get specific ideas from pilots on ways of improving the instrument check so that it would measure more of the qualities which the good airline captain has.

QUESTION #7

"We are also interested in determining to what extent pilot fatigue may be a factor in airline accidents. Can you recall a situation where fatigue in any way might have contributed to an accident or a near accident? Would you describe that situation and tell me just what the pilot did as a result of his fatigue?"

If a pilot can recall such an incident, the interviewer should obtain from him certain essential information about the situation. The interviewer should first give the pilot opportunity to furnish this information voluntarily, but it may be necessary to ask additional questions. Following is the essential information which the interviewer must get:

1. Type of airplane and how many consecutive hours the pilot had been flying at the time of the incident.
2. Kind of flight: overseas or domestic, day or night, a long hop or a flight with stops, instrument or contact flight.
3. How long pilot had been assigned to flight.

QUESTION #8

"I would like to get more of your ideas about this problem of fatigue. What causes pilot fatigue for the most part? What are important fatigue-producing factors in airline flying?"