Normalization of Deviance: A Threat to Aviation Safety

by Karlene Petitt

Overview

The things that airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and the FAA are

not sharing with the public. This book is the result of the author’s

doctoral research—Safety Culture, Training, Understanding, Aviation

Passion: The Impact on Manual Flight and Operational Performance.

While the intent of the research was to learn what predicted manual

flight, what was learned may have predicted and, if heeded, prevented

the Lion Air Flight 602, 2018 crash, Ethiopian Flight 302, 2019

crash, and Atlas Air Flight 3591, 2019 crash. What was learned

could also have prevented the Air France Flight 447 crash. We now

have the data that proves we can’t simply blame the pilot.

There is never one reason an accident occurs, but a chain

of events. If you travel, fly, or touch aviation in any aspect, you

have every reason to read this book. If you wish to read the actual

dissertation, it may be found at https://petittaviationresearch.com.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781944738099
Publisher:	Jet Star Publishing
Publication date:	02/07/2020
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Karlene Petitt is an international airline pilot who is type-rated, and has flown and/
or instructed on the B777, B747-400, B747-
200, B767, B757, B737, B727, and A330
aircraft. She has been a pilot for 41 years,
holds MBA and MHS degrees, and earned her PhD in Aviation, with a focus on safety,
from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Petitt is a mother of three, grandmother of eight, and author who has written numerous books in multiple genres. Novels: Flight For Control, Flight For
Safety, Flight For Survival, Flight for Sanity, and Flight For Truth.
Motivation: Flight to Success: Be the Captain of your Life. For the children: I am Awesome, the ABCs of being me.

Table of Contents

Author’s Note...............................................................................................11 Synopsis...........................................................................................................13 Introduction ..................................................................................................17 Research Overview....................................................................................25 1. Industry Concern...................................................................................34 2. Automation Challenges.....................................................................40 3. Beliefs and Perceptions.......................................................................44 4. Trust and Complacency .....................................................................50 5. Levels of Automation...........................................................................53 6. Equipment Failure.................................................................................55 7. Performance ............................................................................................59 8. Manual Flight ..........................................................................................62 9. Pilot Error...................................................................................................67 10. Situation Awareness..........................................................................69 11. Decision-Making..................................................................................75 12. Experience .............................................................................................77 13. Confidence ............................................................................................84 8 14. Understanding.....................................................................................88 15. Training ...................................................................................................98 16. Advanced Qualification Program (AQP)..............................104 17. Safety Culture and SMS.................................................................120 18. Aviation Passion................................................................................143 19. Literature Gap Review...................................................................149 20. Summary of Results.........................................................................152 21. Recommendations..........................................................................158 22. Conclusion..........................................................................................162 Appendix 1 Results..................................................................................166 Definitions...................................................................................................180 Acronyms....................................................................................................186 References...................................................................................................188 Acknowledgements...............................................................................207 About the Author ...................................................................................211

Editorial Reviews

“If the problem can be judged to lie exclusively in the head and heart of an

unworthy flight crew, then no one in the system needs to be responsible for

changes and improvements. False comfort is gained when the irresponsible pilot

is the only threat” Robert Besco PhD Captain Ret

“Automation can be an improvement to safety. But at the end of the day, we still need

pilots with a high level of flying skills and the ability to recognize when automation is

being helpful, and when it becomes a distraction and a threat. Unfortunately, today’s

training environment is too centered (in my opinion) on automation and discourages

us from thinking like aviators.” (Anonymous Pilot)

“Sadly most pilots don’t know how to fly anymore… People aren’t comfortable. Is it

because the Airbus doesn’t feel right? Because the training we received, or the

company policy, maybe a bit of all. One thing for sure, we got our wings clipped from

the industry long time back and only those that do the extra mile to keep their skills

risk sometime to be called in the office…” (Anonymous Pilot)

From the Publisher