# Automation and Human Performance

> Challenges of modern glass cockpits: complacency and mode confusion.

- **Subject:** 040 — Human Performance Limitations
- **Section:** 040-03 — Basic Aviation Psychology
- **Topic code:** 040-03-07
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-04-01
- **Author:** Pablo Asensio Martínez
- **HTML version:** https://pilotsyllabus.com/en/human-performance-limitations/basic-aviation-psychology/advanced-cockpit-automation/

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## Benefits vs. Costs

![Airbus A380 cockpit](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Airbus_A380_cockpit.jpg)

*   **Benefit**: Reduces physical workload, precise navigation, fuel economy.
*   **Cost**: Increases mental workload (monitoring), risk of skill decay (manual flying skills atrophy).

## Automation Issues
*   **Complacency**: Over-trusting the system. "It's always right." The pilot stops monitoring (out-of-the-loop).
*   **Mode Awareness**: Not knowing what the autopilot is doing.
    *   *Question*: "What is it doing now?" "Why did it do that?"
    *   *Cause*: Silent failures or mode reversions (e.g., reverting from VNAV to Level Change unexpectedly).
*   **Automation Surprise**: When the system behaves differently than the pilot's mental model.

## Golden Rules
1.  **Aviate, Navigate, Communicate**.
2.  Use the appropriate level of automation for the task.
3.  If things don't look right, **disconnect** and fly manually.
4.  Understand your FMA (Flight Mode Annunciator). It is the only reliable source of automation status.

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Free study notes from pilotsyllabus.com. Not a substitute for training at an approved ATO.