ATPL HUMAN FACTORS PRACTICE EXAM #1
Please read all questions carefully and answer the most correct. If you feel a question is not correct or out
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1. What role does the Eustachian tube play in pressure equalisation during flight?
a. It allows fluid to drain from the middle ear to reduce discomfort
b. It maintains pressure balance in the middle ear to prevent barotrauma
c. It adjusts air pressure in the inner ear to protect hearing
d. It prevents sinus infections by regulating airflow in the ear
2. How do positive G-forces affect the body during tight turns or rapid acceleration?
a. Blood is pushed towards the lower body, leading to loss of peripheral vision
b. Blood is pushed to the head, causing increased mental clarity
c. Blood stays evenly distributed throughout the body
d. Blood moves toward the chest, improving circulation
3. Digital displays are now common in modern cockpits. What is one key advantage of these over
analogue displays?
a. They simplify the presentation of complex data, helping pilots understand trends faster
b. They provide exact numerical values, reducing the need for interpretation and minimising
errors
c. They encourage intuitive understanding of aircraft systems and performance
d. They allow for better monitoring of rapid changes in key metrics like altitude
4. What is a key difference between arousal and stress?
a. Arousal degrades performance, while stress always enhances performance
b. Stress leads to physiological responses, while arousal only affects psychological state
c. Arousal helps improve performance, while stress can both improve or impair performance
depending on intensity
d. Stress increases physical readiness, while arousal reduces it
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5. When a leader's lack of involvement leads to misunderstandings or errors due to insufficient
guidance, which leadership style is responsible?
a. Authoritarian
b. Interactive
c. Paternalistic
d. Laissez-faire
6. A flight crew experiences acute fatigue after flying for 10 hours overnight. How can they
effectively recover, and what should they avoid doing immediately after the flight?
a. They should sleep for at least 4 hours upon arrival and avoid drinking caffeine right
before bed
b. They should take a short nap immediately after landing and then stay awake until the
local nighttime
c. They should engage in light exercise after the flight to increase alertness and avoid sleep
for the first 8 hours
d. They should drink caffeinated beverages right after landing to stay awake longer and
avoid falling asleep too soon
7. A pilot is trying to manage fatigue after a long-haul flight but struggles to get back on a normal
sleep schedule. What are the most effective sleep hygiene practices to help restore their sleep
pattern?
a. Take a long nap during the day and limit light exposure at night
b. Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, avoid caffeine late in the day, and create a cool,
dark sleep environment
c. Eat a large meal before bed and stay awake during the day, regardless of tiredness
d. Sleep in short bursts during the day and take regular naps to manage tiredness
8. Taxiing on the wrong taxiway after landing is an example of which type of undesired aircraft
state?
a. Aircraft handling-related UAS
b. Ground navigation-related UAS
c. Aircraft configuration-related UAS
d. Organisational threat
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9. Which of the following describes a procedural error?
a. The pilot does not follow the departure procedure and takes off without ATC clearance
b. The aircraft enters unexpected icing conditions
c. The autopilot disengages unexpectedly
d. The ground crew improperly refuels the aircraft
10. During long-haul flights, pilots must manage their sleep and rest carefully to remain alert. If a pilot
needs to sleep during the flight, what strategies should they use to minimise circadian disruption
and maximise recovery?
a. Take naps during the WOCL to maximise recovery
b. Avoid sleep during the WOCL and schedule naps earlier in the flight
c. Use caffeine to stay awake through the night and rest when the flight is over
d. Sleep during the early morning hours and wake up for landing
11. Which strategy is most effective in managing stress during a long-haul flight?
a. Using alcohol the night before the flight to relax
b. Ignoring the stressors and pushing through
c. Cognitive coping techniques like mindfulness or rationalisation
d. Avoiding the flight and taking time off
12. How does the circadian rhythm impact a pilot's performance during overnight flights?
a. It causes sleep disruptions, making pilots feel less alert during flight
b. It increases cognitive function during the night, but physical performance drops
c. It decreases alertness, especially during the Window of Circadian Low
d. It improves reaction times and decision-making during the late hours
13. How does alcohol affect the body’s ability to function during flight?
a. It increases alertness by stimulating brain activity
b. It slows down brain function, affecting decision-making and balance
c. It improves oxygen absorption at higher altitudes
d. It speeds up recovery from fatigue
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14. What is the most important zeitgeber for aligning the circadian rhythm?
a. Temperature
b. Eating patterns
c. Light exposure
d. Physical activity
15. After a maintenance error is discovered mid-flight, the crew quickly corrects the issue before it
affects safety. What type of threat was this?
a. Latent organisational threat
b. Unexpected threat
c. Anticipated threat
d. Environmental threat
16. Why is the identification of controls through distinct shapes, such as a landing gear handle
resembling a wheel, an important ergonomic feature?
a. It improves aesthetic consistency in the cockpit
b. It allows pilots to quickly select the correct control, even when their attention is focused
elsewhere
c. It encourages pilots to operate controls by touch rather than visual confirmation
d. It allows for faster training, as pilots learn to recognise controls by their shape
17. Which of the following is an organisational threat?
a. The airline mandates tight turnaround times, increasing pressure on the crew
b. The pilot misconfigures the flap setting during approach
c. The crew experiences turbulence en route
d. A bird strike occurs during descent
18. Which leadership style values the input and opinions of all crew members before the captain
makes a decision, encouraging open dialogue?
a. Paternalistic
b. Interactive
c. Authoritarian
d. Laissez-faire
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19. How long does sensory memory typically retain sounds?
a. 1-2 seconds
b. 2-4 seconds
c. 4-8 seconds
d. 8-10 seconds
20. What is the average Time of Useful Consciousness (TUC) for a pilot at 30,000 feet?
a. Approximately 10 minutes if the pilot remains calm and seated.
b. About 3 minutes with physical activity or movement in the cockpit.
c. Typically 1 minute before the pilot begins to lose the ability to make decisions.
d. Around 5 seconds in cases of extreme decompression or intense physical stress.
21. Why is carbon monoxide particularly dangerous in the cockpit during the colder months?
a. Engine leaks are more frequent in colder temperatures, increasing CO exposure
b. Cabin heaters that rely on exhaust systems can leak CO into the cockpit
c. Reduced air circulation in cold weather prevents proper CO venting
d. Pilots are more likely to have windows closed, reducing airflow and increasing CO levels
22. Which visual condition causes light to focus in front of the retina, resulting in blurry distant vision
but clear nearby vision?
a. Hypermetropia
b. Myopia
c. Astigmatism
d. Presbyopia
23. After experiencing gastroenteritis, how long should a pilot wait before resuming flying duties to
ensure recovery?
a. 12 hours
b. 24 hours
c. 48 hours
d. 72 hours
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24. How long is the Time of Useful Consciousness at 25,000 feet for a calm person?
a. 1 minute
b. 2 minute
c. 5 minute
d. 10 minute
25. During a flight, the autopilot disengages without warning, and the crew must quickly take manual
control of the aircraft. This is an example of:
a. An anticipated threat
b. An organisational threat
c. An unexpected environmental threat
d. A latent organisational threat
26. What is the first noticeable effect on vision as G-loads increase during flight?
a. Red-out
b. Tunnel vision
c. Grey-out
d. Black-out
27. A flight crew encounters turbulence during descent and applies too much control input,
temporarily destabilising the aircraft. What kind of error is this?
a. Procedural error
b. Aircraft handling error
c. Organisational threat
d. Communication error
28. What happens when the visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems provide conflicting
information during flight?
a. Heightened senses
b. Temporary improvement in reaction time
c. Disorientation and motion sickness
d. Improved performance due to adaptive compensation
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29. This type of error occurs in a consistent, identifiable pattern, often due to a flaw in procedure or
training. What type of error is being described?
a. Random error
b. Sporadic error
c. Systematic error
d. Cognitive error
30. What is the primary function of red blood cells?
a. Transport nutrients to cells
b. Carry oxygen to tissues and remove CO2
c. Fight infections
d. Regulate blood pressure
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Question Answer
1 B
2 A
3 B
4 C
5 D
6 A
7 B
8 B
9 A
10 B
11 C
12 C
13 B
14 C
15 A
16 B
17 A
18 B
19 C
20 C
21 B
22 B
23 D
24 C
25 C
26 C
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27 B
28 C
29 C
30 B
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