ABSTRACT
Transportation Research Group Faculty of Engineering and Environment, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ
k.plant@soton.ac.uk
This paper explores naturalistic decision making when dealing with critical incidents in the cockpit. The aim of the paper was to examine the extent to which the Perceptual Cycle Model is evident in the decision making process. The Critical Decision Method was utilized to provide critical incident data from five helicopter pilots. The data were thematically analyzed according to the elements of the Perceptual Cycle Model and a phase-of-incident coding scheme. Further analysis explored the diagnostic decision types pilots were employing. A variety of different decision types were found and preliminary differences were identified between appropriate and inappropriate decision making. Additional data analysis with a larger sample is intended to verify the claims made here and answer the questions generated.
