Focus on the “Human Element” (Non-AI)

If > 2/3 of aviation accidents are caused by “human factors,” shouldn’t more of our flight training include a focus on this “wetware” up front? I have long maintained that in aviation, “the most important airspace is between the ears.” This can almost be defined as “everything AI cannot do.” Despite all the amazing technology we have developed and depend on, the human is still the CPU running the show. Observation, replay, and critique of our performance – both external and personal reflection – is the engine that creates safer, resilient pilots. “What went right, what went wrong, and WHY?”

A commercial airliner isn’t supposed to be able to run out of fuel at FL410 (Gimli Glider). Cpt. Bob Pearson did not have checklists to fall back on (and neither did Sully). These extreme cases are when best plans and strategies fail us; there is no effective SOP or checklist solution (compliance). These decision makers utilized “out of the box” thinking to achieve their successful outcomes. They used their creative expertise based on years of experience and lifellong learning. Gary Kline

Developing these uniquely human skills should be an important focus in flight training, both in the predictable environment (compliance) and in the case of “What If?” (creative). Just “wiggling the stick” is not enough. Gary Kline defines this difference clearly in his book “Streetlights and Shadows.”  Checklists and SOPs work in the predictable settings, but creative ADM is necessary for “emergent challenges.” Michael Maya Charles promotes mindfulness and “beginner’s mind” in his “Artful Flying.” Teaching these skills requires an experienced and savvy educator. As Algorithmic Intelligence technology increasingly takes over more and more of the predictable drudge work in life, the essentially human elements come into clearer focus (“Human Intelligence”); the “non-AI.” To identify and build these uniquely human elements, focus on everything AI cannot do. Challenge learners with surprise “What Ifs?” requiring creative solutions.

Our widely heralded hero, AI, is actually “Algorithmic Intelligence,” limited to previously learned data and experience. Though highly useful in predictable environments, AI, is incapable of coping with emergent environments. Novelty or surprise confuse AI yielding hallucinagenic outputs. Rapidly changing challenges require innovative, creative (human) solutions at the correlation level. Operation Human

Only humans can generate creative, funny, innovative behaviors in emergent environments. Awareness and mindfulness are uniquely human and the key to safe and successful aviation. Listen to this amazing (free) introduction to “Artful Flying” and download this fascinating (and hopefully life-changing) audio book. In addition to all the required procedures and explicit procedural knowledge we need and drill to perfection, make sure you are also developing aviators who can both comply accurately but also think creatively when “stuff happens!”  Start with predictable (rote) scripts, then raise them to the correlation level for creative solutions. Fly safely out there (and often).