Course Content and Outcomes Guides (CCOG)

CCOG for AVS 177 archive revision 202604

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Effective Term:
Fall 2026

Course Number:
AVS 177
Course Title:
Pilot Human Factors and Safety Management
Credit Hours:
4
Lecture Hours:
40
Lecture/Lab Hours:
0
Lab Hours:
0

Course Description

Focuses on the impacts of human psychological and physiological factors on pilot performance and decision-making quality, and effective Crew-and-Single-Pilot Resource Management (CRM and SRM) techniques. Covers effective participation in Safety Management Systems (SMS) as they apply to flight operations. Audit available.

Addendum to Course Description

Explores how human traits and limitations affect pilot performance and decisions, both in single-pilot and crew flight operations. Involves introspective exercises intended to help the student learn to recognize their own limitations and tendencies. Through lecture, incident/accident analysis, video presentations and homework assignments, the student will explore the traits, procedures, systems and attitudes that make an effective, safe, professional pilot.

Intended Outcomes for the course

Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

  1. Recognize personal psychological traits and biases and reflect on aeronautical situations where those traits and biases might negatively influence decision-making quality.
  2. Recognize situations where human physical limits may impair pilot performance, and factor these limitations into their decision-making process.
  3. Analyze accident reports to identify where human limitations played a significant part.
  4. Utilize all the assets available in making a risk analysis to determine the safest course of action during both pre-flight and in-flight decision-making processes.
  5. Manage pilot workload using established crew resource management band single-pilot resource management procedures.
  6. Participate effectively as a pilot in the Safety Management System established where they conduct flight operations.

Course Activities and Design

Material will be introduced in the classroom, and assignments will guide the student their exploration of the subject. The assignments will include papers written in response to articles, videos, books and accident/incident reports. Some assignments will include specific introspective exercises.

Outcome Assessment Strategies

Written tests, homework, case studies and/or projects will be used to assess the student outcomes.

Course Content (Themes, Concepts, Issues and Skills)

Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)
Pilot fitness assessment
Aircraft assessment
Environmental factors
External operational pressures
Risk assessment matrixes
Hazardous attitudes
Stress assessment and management
Flight physiology
Night vision
High-altitude considerations
Pilot fatigue
Alcohol / Drugs
Single-pilot Resource Management (SRM)
Task Management
External Resources
Checklist Usage
Situational Awareness
Controlled Flight Into Terrain Awareness
Automation Management
Crew Resource Management (CRM)
Technical Proficiency
Team Management
Workload Management
Situational Awareness Management
Decision Making and Planning
Accident Analysis
NTSB Accident Database Exploration
NASA ASRS Incident Database Exploration
Cockpit Voice Recorder Transcript Analysis
Safety Management Systems (SMS)