Weather-related accidents continue to result in the highest number of General Aviation fatalities each year. In many of these accidents, poor or improper pilot decision-making has been identified as a causal factor.
Pilot perception of weather displays versus reality of the weather plays a vital role in their decision-making processes. Incorrect perception of weather displays could lead to pilots ignoring or misinterpreting external visual cues that require their attention and action to avoid hazardous weather.
The purpose of this session is to discuss how perception versus reality could influence a pilot’s weather-related decision-making. We will discuss factors that affect pilot perception, influences of pilot weather perception, review accidents/incidents where the pilot relied on perception versus reality, and review tools available to identify, assess and mitigate risk.
Dr. Ian Johnson is an Engineering Psychologist with the FAA Weather Research Branch of the Aviation Weather Division. He is the Human Factors Lead and General Aviation subject matter expert on the Weather Technology in the Cockpit program. He has over 20 years of experience in Human Factors Engineering/System Safety of cockpit display systems and user interfaces. His experience ranges from lead Human Factors Engineer, Staff Human Factors Engineer of the Presidential Helicopter program, and technical contributor to RTCA & SAE special committees.
Dr Johnson holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with an emphasis in Cognition and Instruction from Grand Canyon University, a MAS in Aviation/Aerospace Safety Systems, a MAS in Human Factors in Aviation Systems, a BS Degree in Human Factors Psychology, from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, Dr. Johnson holds certificates in General Aeronautical Engineering and Avionics Certification and is a Single and Multi-Engine Airplane pilot.
Mr. Danny Sims is an Atmospheric Scientist with the FAA Aviation Weather Division. He currently leads the Inflight Icing and Model Development and Enhancement weather research projects. He has over 30 years' experience in aviation weather including project management, weather product integration into the Traffic Flow Management System, and test and evaluation of aviation weather products. He has worked with a wide variety of aviation stakeholders. He was also responsible for sustainment of the Traffic Flow Management System at the Air Traffic Control System Command Center gaining a unique perspective into the daily balancing of air traffic demand and capacity across the NAS.
Mr. Sims previously served as a weather officer in the US Air Force providing operational weather forecasting services and leading research and development efforts. He holds a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Virginia and a BS and MS in Meteorology from the Pennsylvania State University.
Aaron Dabney earned his Flight Instructor certificate in 2009, and has been an active instructor ever since. He has provided more than 5,000 hours of instruction in more than 30 models of aircraft, mentoring pilots from their first hour through becoming accomplished instructors themselves, and all points in between.
Dabney grew up in an aviation family. His maternal grandfather Joe was a World War II fighter pilot, and much of his childhood was spent in the family J-3 Cub with his grandfather or his uncle Mark. Aaron completed his first solo in that Cub in 1999 and is now its caretaker.
Aaron is a 6-time NAFI Master Flight Instructor, owns a small flight school, and has served as an adjunct lecturer for Baylor University's Aviation Sciences program since 2010. He serves on NAFI's Board of Directors and serves in several volunteer roles including coordinating MentorLIVE
Aaron lives in Waco, Texas with his wife of 20 years Alisa.
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