ATPL HUMAN FACTORS (CASA -
AHUF) UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers only
These are up to date flashcards as of SEP2022. All information is from the CASA resources
listed for the AHUF exam or official CASA documents. There is conflicting information from
old textbooks. All cards are verified against official CASA documents. Turn over for official
documents. - CORRECT Answer- The official textbooks CASA lists as exam resources are:
- Human Being Pilot (ATC)
- Human Factors for Pilots (Roger G. Green)
- AC61-08 (previously CAAP 5.59)
Also Safety Behaviours for Human Pilots is a direct CASA resource:
https://www.casa.gov.au/content-search/safety-kits/safety-behaviours-human-factors-pilots
3 Categories of an Undesired Aircraft State - CORRECT Answer- 1. Aircraft Handling -
Aircraft handling in the air - Track & speed deviations, airspace penetration, non stabilised
approach.
2. Ground Navigation - Management of aircraft while navigating on ground (this includes
taxi speed!)
3. Aircraft Configuration - Settings & Configurations of Aircraft ie. Power setting, fuel
configuration, Autopilot mode, loading configuration.
What are the three methods of coping with stress? - CORRECT Answer- Action Coping -
Removing yourself or altering situation
Cognitive Coping - Psychological change
Symptom-Directed Coping - Drugs & Alcohol
What are the 3 gas laws pertinent to Human Factors? - CORRECT Answer- Boyles Law
(Pressure & Volume)
Charles Law (Partial Pressure - Concentration)
,Daltons Law (Temperature & Volume)
You join a circuit on a right downwind what is the natural tendency? - CORRECT Answer-
The natural tendency is to keep the runway in view. Often on a right downwind the runway is
obstructed this causes the pilot to dip the wing towards the runway and descend. Descending
is the most dangerous as we are now lower than expected on approach!
What are the notable problems with reliance on the vestibular system? - CORRECT Answer-
1. Not reliable without a visual indication
2. Also may cause nausea with conflicting information
What are the three primary categories of errors? - CORRECT Answer- Aircraft Handling
Error - You touch the aircraft it's a handling error (ie. forgetting to put on carb heat)
Procedural Error - SOP's, Checklists, Approach Charts
Communication Error - ATC, Crew Communication
What are the three types of threats? - CORRECT Answer- Anticipated - Pre-flight planning,
or reviewed threats
Unexpected - Usually inflight, anything we didn't prepare for.
Latent - Something that lies dormant and may not be apparent until an error has been
committed.
Difference between latent and unexpected threats are, latent threats can lie dormant on
multiple flights without being apparent while an unexpected threat will show up in flight.
Latent threat (Runway illusion), Unexpected Threat (Aircraft on that runway)
What are the two categories of threats? - CORRECT Answer- Environmental (Weather,
Airspace Communication, Ground environments, Terrain, Operational pressures such as
arriving late)
Organisational (Documentation errors/ incorrect data entry, tour of duty problems)
What temperature ranges are considered "Uncomfortable" - CORRECT Answer- <15°C and
>30°C
,What are "Zeitgerbers"? - CORRECT Answer- Things that help align our body rhythms such
as day/night cycles, clocks, meals
What do we call the model that fits the human to task? - CORRECT Answer- SHELL With
liveware (human) in the middle
What happens to body rhythms as we travel East? - CORRECT Answer- They
compress/shorten
Note: You will get a question on this. This is the worst case scenario as the body rhythms
have to extend.
What is a committed error? - CORRECT Answer- Pilot expecting a certain situation and is
primed with an appropriate repsonse however the situation varies from the expected and the
prepared response is incorrect.
Environmental Capture is associated with an error in "Skills Memory" define and give an
example. - CORRECT Answer- Where multiple or sequential skills that are usually used
together are automatically carried out even though not all were required ie. Selecting flap on
a flapless approach
Skills once learned are difficult to modify, we call this skills memory or muscle memory.
What are the three errors associated? - CORRECT Answer- Action slips (Wrong action
performed, gear instead of flap)
Environmental Capture (Automatic action when not required)
Reversion (reverts to an previously learned action ie. water landing - gear down)
What is a planning countermeasure? - CORRECT Answer- Actions taken before departure to
ensure safe and proper operation of the flight.
Note: We can plan in flight ie. receive a new weather briefing however if we react to the new
information in any way that would count as a review countermeasure.
What is a procedural error? - CORRECT Answer- When a pilot performs and error of
procedure such as a missing an item on a checklist, failure to adhere to SOP's or failure to
execute an emergency action
, What is a review countermeasure? - CORRECT Answer- For coping with unexpected events
in flight. If we modify or change the plans at all to deal with threats or errors we're enacting a
review countermeasure.
What is aerodontalagia? - CORRECT Answer- Toothpain caused by Barotrauma
What is an aircraft handling error? - CORRECT Answer- An error that occurs when
interacting with controls, automation or systems.
What is an execution countermeasure? - CORRECT Answer- Actions taken in flight to
protect against threats and errors. Error detection & Error Response.
What is an external threat? - CORRECT Answer- Anything outside the scope of the pilot ie.
weather, W&B, density, runway length, temperature, traffic, terrain, obstacles, condition of
the aircraft
What is apathy? - CORRECT Answer- Lack of intrest, enthusiasm or concern
What is cataracs? - CORRECT Answer- Clouding of the lens of the eye, treatment by laser
and age related.
What is environmental capture? - CORRECT Answer- When a particular action or motor skill
is always associated with a certain phase of flight. saying checked items while turning final
but not actually checking them.
What is glaucoma? - CORRECT Answer- Build up of pressure in the eyeball damaging the
sensitive structures and nerve endings. Progressive deterioration of the peripheral to central
vision or can occur suddenly. Over 40 should be treated regularly.
What do we call long sighted eye disorders? - CORRECT Answer- Hyperopia/Hypermetropia
What is the loss of visual acuity with age? - CORRECT Answer- Presbyopia. Lens can no
longer accomodate.
AHUF) UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers only
These are up to date flashcards as of SEP2022. All information is from the CASA resources
listed for the AHUF exam or official CASA documents. There is conflicting information from
old textbooks. All cards are verified against official CASA documents. Turn over for official
documents. - CORRECT Answer- The official textbooks CASA lists as exam resources are:
- Human Being Pilot (ATC)
- Human Factors for Pilots (Roger G. Green)
- AC61-08 (previously CAAP 5.59)
Also Safety Behaviours for Human Pilots is a direct CASA resource:
https://www.casa.gov.au/content-search/safety-kits/safety-behaviours-human-factors-pilots
3 Categories of an Undesired Aircraft State - CORRECT Answer- 1. Aircraft Handling -
Aircraft handling in the air - Track & speed deviations, airspace penetration, non stabilised
approach.
2. Ground Navigation - Management of aircraft while navigating on ground (this includes
taxi speed!)
3. Aircraft Configuration - Settings & Configurations of Aircraft ie. Power setting, fuel
configuration, Autopilot mode, loading configuration.
What are the three methods of coping with stress? - CORRECT Answer- Action Coping -
Removing yourself or altering situation
Cognitive Coping - Psychological change
Symptom-Directed Coping - Drugs & Alcohol
What are the 3 gas laws pertinent to Human Factors? - CORRECT Answer- Boyles Law
(Pressure & Volume)
Charles Law (Partial Pressure - Concentration)
,Daltons Law (Temperature & Volume)
You join a circuit on a right downwind what is the natural tendency? - CORRECT Answer-
The natural tendency is to keep the runway in view. Often on a right downwind the runway is
obstructed this causes the pilot to dip the wing towards the runway and descend. Descending
is the most dangerous as we are now lower than expected on approach!
What are the notable problems with reliance on the vestibular system? - CORRECT Answer-
1. Not reliable without a visual indication
2. Also may cause nausea with conflicting information
What are the three primary categories of errors? - CORRECT Answer- Aircraft Handling
Error - You touch the aircraft it's a handling error (ie. forgetting to put on carb heat)
Procedural Error - SOP's, Checklists, Approach Charts
Communication Error - ATC, Crew Communication
What are the three types of threats? - CORRECT Answer- Anticipated - Pre-flight planning,
or reviewed threats
Unexpected - Usually inflight, anything we didn't prepare for.
Latent - Something that lies dormant and may not be apparent until an error has been
committed.
Difference between latent and unexpected threats are, latent threats can lie dormant on
multiple flights without being apparent while an unexpected threat will show up in flight.
Latent threat (Runway illusion), Unexpected Threat (Aircraft on that runway)
What are the two categories of threats? - CORRECT Answer- Environmental (Weather,
Airspace Communication, Ground environments, Terrain, Operational pressures such as
arriving late)
Organisational (Documentation errors/ incorrect data entry, tour of duty problems)
What temperature ranges are considered "Uncomfortable" - CORRECT Answer- <15°C and
>30°C
,What are "Zeitgerbers"? - CORRECT Answer- Things that help align our body rhythms such
as day/night cycles, clocks, meals
What do we call the model that fits the human to task? - CORRECT Answer- SHELL With
liveware (human) in the middle
What happens to body rhythms as we travel East? - CORRECT Answer- They
compress/shorten
Note: You will get a question on this. This is the worst case scenario as the body rhythms
have to extend.
What is a committed error? - CORRECT Answer- Pilot expecting a certain situation and is
primed with an appropriate repsonse however the situation varies from the expected and the
prepared response is incorrect.
Environmental Capture is associated with an error in "Skills Memory" define and give an
example. - CORRECT Answer- Where multiple or sequential skills that are usually used
together are automatically carried out even though not all were required ie. Selecting flap on
a flapless approach
Skills once learned are difficult to modify, we call this skills memory or muscle memory.
What are the three errors associated? - CORRECT Answer- Action slips (Wrong action
performed, gear instead of flap)
Environmental Capture (Automatic action when not required)
Reversion (reverts to an previously learned action ie. water landing - gear down)
What is a planning countermeasure? - CORRECT Answer- Actions taken before departure to
ensure safe and proper operation of the flight.
Note: We can plan in flight ie. receive a new weather briefing however if we react to the new
information in any way that would count as a review countermeasure.
What is a procedural error? - CORRECT Answer- When a pilot performs and error of
procedure such as a missing an item on a checklist, failure to adhere to SOP's or failure to
execute an emergency action
, What is a review countermeasure? - CORRECT Answer- For coping with unexpected events
in flight. If we modify or change the plans at all to deal with threats or errors we're enacting a
review countermeasure.
What is aerodontalagia? - CORRECT Answer- Toothpain caused by Barotrauma
What is an aircraft handling error? - CORRECT Answer- An error that occurs when
interacting with controls, automation or systems.
What is an execution countermeasure? - CORRECT Answer- Actions taken in flight to
protect against threats and errors. Error detection & Error Response.
What is an external threat? - CORRECT Answer- Anything outside the scope of the pilot ie.
weather, W&B, density, runway length, temperature, traffic, terrain, obstacles, condition of
the aircraft
What is apathy? - CORRECT Answer- Lack of intrest, enthusiasm or concern
What is cataracs? - CORRECT Answer- Clouding of the lens of the eye, treatment by laser
and age related.
What is environmental capture? - CORRECT Answer- When a particular action or motor skill
is always associated with a certain phase of flight. saying checked items while turning final
but not actually checking them.
What is glaucoma? - CORRECT Answer- Build up of pressure in the eyeball damaging the
sensitive structures and nerve endings. Progressive deterioration of the peripheral to central
vision or can occur suddenly. Over 40 should be treated regularly.
What do we call long sighted eye disorders? - CORRECT Answer- Hyperopia/Hypermetropia
What is the loss of visual acuity with age? - CORRECT Answer- Presbyopia. Lens can no
longer accomodate.
