A perspective on human performance as the limiting factor in aircraft performance.

Abstract

The popular notion appears to be growing that the human is the limiting factor in aircraft performance. Proponents cite recent instances of pilot loss of consciousness during maneuvers. The aerospace medicine perspective differs, seeing the aircraft not as a vehicle in which to make hard turns, but as a mission-directed weapon system for which the pilot is the enabling factor. Various "human limiting factors" are described among requirements staffs, developers, researchers, trainers, and operators. A plea is made to pursue available avenues to improve manned weapon system performance and to see even our most sophisticated weapons as human instruments.