Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Human Factors in Aviation
  • Unit Code

    SCA1117
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit examines the effects of flight on the human body. It covers a range of impacts that flying has on the human body and how these must be monitored and controlled when planning to fly and when piloting an aircraft.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the functioning of the human respiratory and circulatory system and the effect of altitude on these systems.
  2. Explain the nature and elements of human information processing and how it can be affected by the aviation environment.
  3. Identify factors essential to personal health and the maintenance of sound health in the aviation context.
  4. Recall functioning of the human sensory systems and the effect on them of altitude and accelerations.

Unit Content

  1. Aviation medical examinations, drug and alcohol effects, blood donation.
  2. Diet and exercise, coronary risk factors, upper respiratory tract infection, injuries and infections, emotional health, dehydration, ageing.
  3. Fundamentals of desert and maritime survival, basic first aid.
  4. Information processing and decision making, human error, stress and stress management, fatigue, body rhythm and sleep, basic ergonomics.
  5. Respiratory system, hypoxia and hyperventilation, effects of pressure changes, anatomy of the eye and ear, vision, spatial disorientation and illusions, fatigue and stress, motion sickness, effects of acceleration, toxic hazards.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and tutorials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestIn-semester tests30%
ExerciseTutorial exercises20%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination50%

Text References

  • ^ Harris, D. (2011). Human performance on the flight deck. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
  • Robson, D. (2008). Human being pilot: human factors for aviation professionals. Brisbane: Aviation Theory Centre.
  • Green, R. G., Muir, H., James, M., Gradwell, D., & Green, R. L. (1996). Human factors for pilots (2nd ed.). Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCA1117|1|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Engineering

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Human Factors in Aviation
  • Unit Code

    SCA1117
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus

Description

This unit examines the effects of flight on the human body. It covers a range of impacts that flying has on the human body and how these must be monitored and controlled when planning to fly and when piloting an aircraft.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe the functioning of the human respiratory and circulatory system and the effect of altitude on these systems.
  2. Explain the nature and elements of human information processing and how it can be affected by the aviation environment.
  3. Identify factors essential to personal health and the maintenance of sound health in the aviation context.
  4. Recall functioning of the human sensory systems and the effect on them of altitude and accelerations.

Unit Content

  1. Aviation medical examinations, drug and alcohol effects, blood donation.
  2. Diet and exercise, coronary risk factors, upper respiratory tract infection, injuries and infections, emotional health, dehydration, ageing.
  3. Fundamentals of desert and maritime survival, basic first aid.
  4. Information processing and decision making, human error, stress and stress management, fatigue, body rhythm and sleep, basic ergonomics.
  5. Respiratory system, hypoxia and hyperventilation, effects of pressure changes, anatomy of the eye and ear, vision, spatial disorientation and illusions, fatigue and stress, motion sickness, effects of acceleration, toxic hazards.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures and tutorials.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestIn-semester tests30%
ExerciseTutorial exercises20%
ExaminationEnd of semester examination50%

Text References

  • ^ Harris, D. (2011). Human performance on the flight deck. Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.
  • Robson, D. (2008). Human being pilot: human factors for aviation professionals. Brisbane: Aviation Theory Centre.
  • Green, R. G., Muir, H., James, M., Gradwell, D., & Green, R. L. (1996). Human factors for pilots (2nd ed.). Aldershot, UK: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

^ Mandatory reference


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

SCA1117|1|2