Dealing with panic
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Dealing with panic
Hello, SLF here with a possibly dumb question. I was wondering what if any training do pilots receive in managing panic (for want of a better term)? Similarly, in recruiting pilots, do airlines make any effort to select those with a better natural "aptitude" for staying cool and resourceful under extreme stress?
I ask because from reading various fascinating accident threads here on PPruNe (most recently this one about the BA flight with the unlatched engine cowls) it seems that panic can play a critical role in causing otherwise competent and capable flight crews to do dumb things, just when it matters most. Of course, this is only natural, pilots being human, and none of us are at our best when overstressed and/or terrified. But with air travel now so safe (I imagine most airline pilots go through their entire careers without having to handle a serious in-flight emergency) I wonder if this makes the emergencies so unexpected and unusual that the potential for "freaking out" pilots to the point of ineffectiveness (or worse) is actually going up over time.
As SLF, one of the most troubling accidents in recent times is AF447. And for me, the most disturbing aspect of this accident is not the frozen pitot tubes or the fact that the pilots ignored/didn't register the stall warning. It is that the pilots - when confronted with a situation which (to them) was baffling and frightening - just sat there like stunned mullets, making no systematic, structured attempt to work out what was going on.
Now I know that pilots train for all kinds of specific contingencies, you practise what to do when you lose an engine at V1, or whatever. But I am wondering if you receive general training in how to respond if you don't know what's going on, how to stay in control (of yourself first, and then the aircraft) when confused, frightened, panicked, etc. Can this be trained? And can innate capacity for managing panic be identified and selected?
I ask because from reading various fascinating accident threads here on PPruNe (most recently this one about the BA flight with the unlatched engine cowls) it seems that panic can play a critical role in causing otherwise competent and capable flight crews to do dumb things, just when it matters most. Of course, this is only natural, pilots being human, and none of us are at our best when overstressed and/or terrified. But with air travel now so safe (I imagine most airline pilots go through their entire careers without having to handle a serious in-flight emergency) I wonder if this makes the emergencies so unexpected and unusual that the potential for "freaking out" pilots to the point of ineffectiveness (or worse) is actually going up over time.
As SLF, one of the most troubling accidents in recent times is AF447. And for me, the most disturbing aspect of this accident is not the frozen pitot tubes or the fact that the pilots ignored/didn't register the stall warning. It is that the pilots - when confronted with a situation which (to them) was baffling and frightening - just sat there like stunned mullets, making no systematic, structured attempt to work out what was going on.
Now I know that pilots train for all kinds of specific contingencies, you practise what to do when you lose an engine at V1, or whatever. But I am wondering if you receive general training in how to respond if you don't know what's going on, how to stay in control (of yourself first, and then the aircraft) when confused, frightened, panicked, etc. Can this be trained? And can innate capacity for managing panic be identified and selected?
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Throughout our training we are constantly bombarded with emergencies - (engine out, radio failure, etc) and how to deal with them. We're given a problem and we follow procedures to fix and or minimize the issue.
As far as AF447, they were working on the problem, all the way to the ocean. The issue was lack of crew coordination - not knowing what inputs the other pilot was giving the side stick.
There is no "panic" training, just solve the problem training.
I find that this mentality transfers to everyday life.
As far as AF447, they were working on the problem, all the way to the ocean. The issue was lack of crew coordination - not knowing what inputs the other pilot was giving the side stick.
There is no "panic" training, just solve the problem training.
I find that this mentality transfers to everyday life.
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As far as AF447, they were working on the problem, all the way to the ocean
I think a review of the investigation reports might prove useful ...
I think a review of the investigation reports might prove useful ...
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PANIC?
We pilots do not experience what the general population would call PANIC.We experience a slight elevation of pulse rate and blood pressure because we realise, kinda suddenly, that we might die shortly.So our previous training kicks in and we MANAGE THE situation as best as we can, to arrive at a reasonable outcome, in order to make it to the local BAR where we can relax and review what just happened FFS.
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BUT SERIOUSLY
My post was only half-joking, except for the bit about the Bar.....However as we accumulate more and more hours, more and more experience, more and more training in simulators, the instinct to PANIC seems to fade away and a kinda calm comes over you no matter what you are confronted with.My feeling is that it is always WEATHER that gives you the most trouble.
HOWEVER.All this training no matter how well meant it is, cannot really prepare you for the totally unexpected event that YOU HAVE NEVER TRAINED FOR.We have become very good at learning from others mistakes, but we should be avoiding these mistakes in the first place!! Not long ago just on becoming airborne in my rather large jet, we were faced with a full blown MAYDAY situation, very confusing and indications of loss of flight controls also stall warning ALL AT ONCE only inches off the ground.I found that I was aware of imminent death, and was surprised how calm I was perhaps an acceptance of what was going to happen.We recovered, somehow and landed.I really enjoyed the Bar very shortly later........Peter.
HOWEVER.All this training no matter how well meant it is, cannot really prepare you for the totally unexpected event that YOU HAVE NEVER TRAINED FOR.We have become very good at learning from others mistakes, but we should be avoiding these mistakes in the first place!! Not long ago just on becoming airborne in my rather large jet, we were faced with a full blown MAYDAY situation, very confusing and indications of loss of flight controls also stall warning ALL AT ONCE only inches off the ground.I found that I was aware of imminent death, and was surprised how calm I was perhaps an acceptance of what was going to happen.We recovered, somehow and landed.I really enjoyed the Bar very shortly later........Peter.
I have met quite a few people in my time who tend to freeze solid when in a crisis. Fortunately none of them were pilots. One friend froze onto the helm of a boat which was on a collision course with another. We just couldn't get him off before we hit the other boat. It sometimes happens to passengers in light aircraft and I have learned from others' experience that a quick poke in the eye will cure the problem.
I did wonder if the AF 447 pilot was similarly frozen onto the stick.
In my own case I have only had one opportunity to find out how I cope in a crisis when I tried to do a go around with the carb heat still on. As I rapidly approached a line of standing crops I was quite impressed by my calm attitude as I assessed the best action. I worked out that, if I stayed on the ground I would go a*rse over tip, if I tried to clear the crops I would probably stall into them, so I successfully nursed us through the very tops of the crops, just gathering a few strands in the tail wheel.
I did wonder if the AF 447 pilot was similarly frozen onto the stick.
In my own case I have only had one opportunity to find out how I cope in a crisis when I tried to do a go around with the carb heat still on. As I rapidly approached a line of standing crops I was quite impressed by my calm attitude as I assessed the best action. I worked out that, if I stayed on the ground I would go a*rse over tip, if I tried to clear the crops I would probably stall into them, so I successfully nursed us through the very tops of the crops, just gathering a few strands in the tail wheel.
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Panic does not solve problems
From the moment you start flying you find things are always going wrong. It's almost as if the people who are training you are trying to kill you. And many of us have gambled our houses and well paid former careers betting that not only could we learn enough to pass the exams but that we could also push the right buttons when it counted. so those of a nervous disposition get rooted out very early on in training process with a few more falling when they join an airline. When things go wrong yes you do get concerned, yes you do get stressed but most of us manage "to do nothing very quickly". That gives us a few seconds to think, confirm the problem and then to start the process of dealing with it. Also, most emergencies, engine fires included, do not require anything to be done quickly anyway. There are only a few things that require an instant response. What is critical is firstly to keep flying the plane and secondly making sure you are pressing the right buttons.
PM
PM
PM, you're right; panic does not solve problems. And nor does praying. There is, allegedly, a short video clip out there taken from the right hand cockpit seat of an unidentified airliner showing lots of CB activity on the nav display, and lots of lightning flashes out the window. The view pans left to show, first, an empty captain's seat and then, it's intended occupant on his knees on the floor behind his seat. Praying. I suspect that on landing whoever was being prayed to was given the credit for having guided them safely through the bad weather. And this is in the 21st century...
During my flying instructors course in the RAAF the instructor informed me he was now the "student" and I was let him undertake an 8-turn spin in a Wirraway (looks like a Harvard or SNJ) and its recovery.
After 8 turns I told him to recover but he made no attempt. We had parachutes in those days and I knew if things got serious I could always jump and leave him to it. I again requested him to recover, NOW. He replied over the intercom in a seemingly scared voice that he couldn't recover. I told him that I had control and for him to let go of the controls, SIR.
But he had the controls jammed hard-over in the pro-spin position. I asked him again politely to let go of the controls but he said he was scared. We had lost 5000 ft by now and now I was getting worried. In the end I exploded in anger at his stupidity and IMHO, too much realism.
The student/instructor relationship rapidly deteriorated from then on, as did the military rank difference. I was a young 24 year old sergeant and the instructor was a Flight Lieutenant 35 year old veteran former wartime Spitfire pilot. With the ground getting nearer, I told him in no uncertain terms to "Get your frigging hands off the frigging controls". Except I didn't use, `friggin`.
Immediately, the controls became free and I recovered from the spin with a couple of thousand feet to spare but still too close for my comfort.
At the subsequent de-briefing, I apologized to him for swearing at a senior officer while on duty. He just grinned and said I did exactly the right thing under the circumstances. In other words if all else fails and a student freezes up on the controls, you may have to resort to loud foul language to shock him out of his panicked state. Fortunately I have never had to use that advice.
Many years later the instructor had left the Air Force and became an Anglican Bishop. I wondered if he ever swore at his flock from the pulpit.
After 8 turns I told him to recover but he made no attempt. We had parachutes in those days and I knew if things got serious I could always jump and leave him to it. I again requested him to recover, NOW. He replied over the intercom in a seemingly scared voice that he couldn't recover. I told him that I had control and for him to let go of the controls, SIR.
But he had the controls jammed hard-over in the pro-spin position. I asked him again politely to let go of the controls but he said he was scared. We had lost 5000 ft by now and now I was getting worried. In the end I exploded in anger at his stupidity and IMHO, too much realism.
The student/instructor relationship rapidly deteriorated from then on, as did the military rank difference. I was a young 24 year old sergeant and the instructor was a Flight Lieutenant 35 year old veteran former wartime Spitfire pilot. With the ground getting nearer, I told him in no uncertain terms to "Get your frigging hands off the frigging controls". Except I didn't use, `friggin`.
Immediately, the controls became free and I recovered from the spin with a couple of thousand feet to spare but still too close for my comfort.
At the subsequent de-briefing, I apologized to him for swearing at a senior officer while on duty. He just grinned and said I did exactly the right thing under the circumstances. In other words if all else fails and a student freezes up on the controls, you may have to resort to loud foul language to shock him out of his panicked state. Fortunately I have never had to use that advice.
Many years later the instructor had left the Air Force and became an Anglican Bishop. I wondered if he ever swore at his flock from the pulpit.
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Centarus, good story! when I underwent my first training to qualify to fly the public in a glider, the instructor in the front seat pretending to be an innocent member of the public pulled the stick right back and stepped hard on the left rudder.
I said "Let go!" politely. And then when we still spun down, I used the same tone of voice and volume that I do for my kids when they better behave or there will be BIG TROUBLE! Which did the trick, he let go and I recovered.
I was quite prepared to hit him over the head with violence. Almost had to follow this plan later on when a trial lesson grabbed the stick in panic at low level on the aerotow. Fortunately shouting usually works.
I said "Let go!" politely. And then when we still spun down, I used the same tone of voice and volume that I do for my kids when they better behave or there will be BIG TROUBLE! Which did the trick, he let go and I recovered.
I was quite prepared to hit him over the head with violence. Almost had to follow this plan later on when a trial lesson grabbed the stick in panic at low level on the aerotow. Fortunately shouting usually works.
Further to my previous post. The RAAF had a flying school at Point Cook in Victoria. Several students came from Papua New Guinea. One of the instructors was an arrogant cuss and racist. His particular PNG student was a big lad and very polite. During aerobatic training in a Winjeel side by side single engine trainer, the instructor was particularly caustic at the nationality of the gentle giant he was flying with.
Next thing the PNG student pilot grabbed the stick, rolled the Winjeel inverted and started to pull through. The instructor was unable to over-power the student who announced quite calmly that both were about to die. Obviously his patience with the instructor had been sorely tested.
The instructor pleaded with his student to let go of the controls as the Winjeel was really wiping off height. The student said to the instructor "If you apologize we will not die"
The instructor apologized profusely, the PNG student released the controls and the instructor recovered the aircraft. The student stayed on the pilots course and after graduation returned to PNG and flew Dakotas.
Next thing the PNG student pilot grabbed the stick, rolled the Winjeel inverted and started to pull through. The instructor was unable to over-power the student who announced quite calmly that both were about to die. Obviously his patience with the instructor had been sorely tested.
The instructor pleaded with his student to let go of the controls as the Winjeel was really wiping off height. The student said to the instructor "If you apologize we will not die"
The instructor apologized profusely, the PNG student released the controls and the instructor recovered the aircraft. The student stayed on the pilots course and after graduation returned to PNG and flew Dakotas.
