ABSTRACT
Faulty pilot judgment has been identified as a contributing cause in a majority of aircraft accidents attributed to pilot error. Furthermore, given that such errors often occur in bad weather following instrument or system failure and in time-pressured circumstances, it is reasonable to assume that the resulting stress from these anxiety-provoking situations may exert an important degrading influence on the quality of decision making. A study by A. Stokes, B. Barnett, and R. L. Davis used a microcomputer-based simulation of pilot decision tasks known as microcomputer-based flight decision training system (MIDIS). The MIDIS software allows the readings on the instrument panel to change throughout the course of the "flight" in synchrony with the prevailing scenario. These changes may occur either discretely or continuously. MIDIS do not attempt to simulate the flight dynamics of an aircraft from control inputs. Rather it imposes judgment requirements by presenting a series of time slices or "scenarios" in the course of a coherent unfolding flight.
