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Old 31st Aug 2011, 11:38
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Old Carthusian
 
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JD-EE
There is no evidence that data presented to the pilots was inadequate and even if it was this is another training issue. There are procedures for dealing with loss of information which should be followed. It is not a problem with the aircraft or its displays.

I am interested in the idea that humans can only handle one cognative input at a time. Under certain circumstances this is true but only during times of stress. Outside such situations the human brain can handle several. The point of proper training, CRM and well defined procedures is that they put the pilot into a situation where the cognative input is controlled and directed towards solving the situation. All of these factors give the pilot the ability to overcome the narrowing of inputs and continue to function normally. Iain W's reference to Wickens MRT Model though could be thought of as misleading - it is a much more complex theory than the element presented and in fact as Wickens talks about people having problems when handling more than one task which requires the use of the SAME resource. This is slightly different to a statement that we are able to handle only one cognitive input at a time. Visual perception and auditory perception would in fact constitute two different resources. Thus conducting a proper instrument scan and hearing the stall warning would not be mutually exclusive. I do not feel that this can be an adequate explanation for the accident and in fact would even go as far as to doubt it especially as Wickens also notes that as workload increases performance can also increase.
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