HPL: 5 Latest Exam Questions on Basic Aviation Psychology

Many student pilots find ATPL Human Performance and Limitations subject challenging. But once you understand the key psychological principles behind pilot performance, communication, and decision-making, the questions start to make sense.

Today ATPL pilot Michal breaks down five of the latest Human Performance and Limitations (HPL) exam questions from the Airhead ATPL Question Bank — all recently seen in real EASA ATPL exams across multiple authorities.

In this ATPL Human Performance exam prep session, Michal focuses on Topic 04003: Basic Aviation Psychology, explaining essential concepts that help pilots stay alert, communicate clearly, and manage cockpit automation safely.

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Understand the critical role of human factors in aviation safety and avoid common pitfalls by reading our blog post, The Dirty Dozen: 12 Critical Human Factors.

1. Communication Qualities of a Good Briefing

Question ID AIR-243979 — What are the communication qualities of a good briefing? A good briefing must:

1. contain as much information and be as comprehensive as possible.

2. be of a standard type so that it can be reused for another flight of the same type.

3. be short and precise.

4. be understandable to the other crew member(s).

Correct answer: The correct statements are 2,3 and 4. 

Explanation: The primary purpose of a crew briefing is to establish shared situational awareness — ensuring that both pilots have the same understanding of the flight plan, aircraft status, and potential threats. When everyone is “on the same page,” coordination and cross-checking become seamless.

However, briefings should be concise and focused. Overly long or detailed briefings can reduce attention and cause confusion rather than clarity. At the same time, standardisation is key. Airlines use SOP-based briefing formats so that even when crew members change, the structure remains consistent and predictable. This familiarity helps maintain efficiency and reduces the risk of omissions.

By the end of a briefing, all crew members should share a common mental model of the flight and how it will be managed.

Effective briefings are:

• Short: Deliver essential information quickly and clearly.

• Standardised: Follow a consistent structure, making it easy to follow and identify omissions. Understood by all: A simple, shared plan is far more effective than a complex one that’s misunderstood.

Exam Tip: When you see “briefing” in the question, look for options mentioning short, clear, or standardised. Avoid answers suggesting “as comprehensive as possible.”

Discover 10 tried-and-true tips to sharpen your flying skills, boost confidence, and become a safer, smarter pilot.

2. Maximum Awareness Management

Question ID AIR-243943 – An aircraft operating with the FMS in the LNAV/VNAV mode is operating in a busy terminal area at the end of a flight. Bad weather in the area has resulted in ATC requiring the flight crew to make several changes to the aircraft's flight path. What is the best action for the pilots to take in order to maintain the maximum awareness of their flight status?

1. The main risk is that the pilots become distracted while re-programming the FMS. To reduce this risk, the Pilot-in-Command should immediately request a short delay or a hold in order to complete the entry of the new LNAV/VNAV parameters, before continuing with the approach.

2. The FMS in LNAV/VNAV mode is the primary, and most accurate, navigation system available to the pilots, and its use should be maintained. In order to minimise data entry errors, both pilots should check the entry of the new LNAV/VNAV parameters at the same time.

3. Re-programming of the FMS in the LNAV/VNAV mode during periods of high workload can lead to errors and also cause a loss of situational awareness. Therefore, the pilots should downgrade to a lower, simpler level of automation such as ALT/HDG or even to manual flying.

4. In order to mitigate against loss of situational awareness, and avoid the risk of errors while entering new data, the FMS should be switched off, and the pilots should respond to ATC instructions by flying the aircraft manually.

Correct answer: Re-programming of the FMS in the LNAV/VNAV mode during periods of high workload can lead to errors and also cause a loss of situational awareness. Therefore, the pilots should downgrade to a lower, simpler level of automation such as ALT/HDG or even to manual flying.

Explanation: In busy terminal areas, using manual heading (HDG) and altitude (ALT) modes provides immediate, clear feedback and helps maintain situational awareness. Entering every ATC instruction into the FMS can be time-consuming and risky, increasing the risk of navigation errors or traffic conflicts.

While all answer options may include some truth, the best practice — and the examiner’s expected answer — is to avoid complex FMS tasks during high workload. Switching to HDG/ALT modes while reprogramming the FMS ensures better control and awareness.

Manual flying can help in certain moments, but in high-stress environments, it’s often safer to let the autopilot manage the basics while both pilots stay focused on the big picture.  The autopilot reduces workload, but you remain the pilot in command.

Exam Tip:  When a question involves “busy terminal areas,” “vectors,” or “ATC instructions,” the best answer usually involves heading and altitude modes, not full FMS reliance.

Review the 15 practical Q&As every student pilot needs to know cold in our recent blog Pilot Know-How: Your 15-Question Cheat Sheet.

3. Importance of SOPs

Question ID AIR-244880 – A pilot is learning how to recover from an undesired aircraft state (undesired aircraft situation). Which option is correct as regards the role of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in reducing the risk of an accident?

1. SOPs state how to make the best use of the aircraft controls, but human sources of error are excluded, so the instructor should therefore define the safety margins.

2. Aircraft limitations and performance are found in the Aircraft Flight Manual, and the operator may not use higher or lower safety margins in the SOPs.

3. SOPs are less effective than an experienced instructor, and he/she should define the safety margins.

4. SOPs can state the minimum attitude for the manoeuvre and the conditions under which the instructor should take control of the aircraft.

Correct answer: SOPs can state the minimum attitude for the manoeuvre and the conditions under which the instructor should take control of the aircraft.

Explanation: Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) exist for one reason — safety through consistency. Instructors often say “SOPs are written in blood,” a reminder that every procedure was created in response to real incidents or errors.

SOPs ensure that all pilots perform the same actions, in the same way, regardless of whom they fly with. They define clear boundaries for safe operation, allowing crews to detect and correct deviations early. This common framework enhances coordination, predictability, and overall flight safety.

Strict adherence to SOPs helps prevent or mitigate crew errors, manage operational threats, and maintain a high safety margin. Importantly, SOPs apply to everyone — they don’t exclude human error or rely on personal judgment. Individual instructors or pilots should never redefine safety limits; consistency is what keeps operations safe and standardised.

Exam Tip: If the question mentions undesired aircraft states or safety risk reduction, the correct answer will often highlight SOPs as guidelines and limits for actions or control transfer.

“Beyond the Routine: Understanding Aviation Checklists” covers the importance of checklists and how to use them effectively. Discover best practices for checklist management, learn how to avoid common errors, and understand why these procedures are vital for every flight.

4. Cockpit Lighting at Night

Question ID AIR-244383 – During the cruise, at night, when the workload is low, it is recommended that..

1. the lighting in the cockpit be dimmed in order to reduce visual fatigue.

2. the lighting in the cockpit be increased in order to prevent low vigilance.

3. the lighting in the cockpit be dimmed in order to prevent low vigilance.

4. only those instruments that are vital to flying the aircraft be lit in order to avoid dividing one's attention.

Correct answer: The lighting in the cockpit be increased in order to prevent low vigilance.

Explanation: This question tests vigilance management — a key psychological concept in HPL. During a long night cruise, low workload and dim lighting can cause hypovigilance (low alertness). In contrast, during approach or thunderstorm conditions, lighting affects visual adaptation differently.

At night, dim lights during approach help eyes adapt to the darkness outside, but during cruise, too much dimming increases fatigue and drowsiness.

During thunderstorms, lighting should also be increased — bright flashes from lightning can temporarily blind you if your eyes are adapted to darkness.

 Exam Tip: Watch for keywords in the question:

• “During cruise” → Keep lights bright.

• “During approach” → Dim lights for visual adaptation.

• “Thunderstorm” → Increase lighting to avoid glare blindness.

5. Understanding “mode awareness”

Question ID AIR-244149 – In the context of operating complex and highly automated aircraft, the term ”mode awareness” is used to describe that…

1. the pilot should always be aware of the automation mode under which the aircraft is operating and understand the interaction between a mode of automation and a particular phase of flight or pilot input.

2. the current mode in which the cockpit automation is operating should always be transparent to the pilot, and that the interface allows for pilot interaction, including manual override of the automation.

3. the automation system should provide unambiguous feedback to the pilot in which mode it is operating, including the requirement for specific pilot input depending on the particular phase of flight.

4. the pilot should maintain situational awareness as regards the appropriate automation mode required for a particular phase of flight, and the opportunity for manual pilot input to interact with the various modes.

Correct answer: the pilot should always be aware of the automation mode under which the aircraft is operating and understand the interaction between a mode of automation and a particular phase of flight or pilot input.

Explanation: Understanding aircraft automation is critical in modern flight, and that is the core of mode awareness. Mode awareness is the ability to know the current flight modes and understand exactly how the aircraft is operating in that phase of flight. Its absence, often called mode confusion, has been a factor in several fatal accidents.

To ensure safety, pilots must call out autopilot mode changes shown on the Flight Mode Annunciator (FMA). For example, a pilot might say, "Heading select" when switching from LNAV. This verbalization creates a shared awareness that prevents confusion and ensures both pilots understand the aircraft's intended behaviour.

Exam tip: Any answer describing knowing the current automation mode or understanding how modes interact is likely correct. Avoid vague terms like “system feedback” without pilot awareness.

Explore the importance of mental wellbeing for pilots and learn how to focus on it in our blog, Fly Well, Be Well: Prioritising Pilot Mental Wellbeing.

HPL Exam Overview 

Just in case you need it, we’ve added the ATPL Human Performance & Limitations Exam Overview at the end of this question walkthrough. It gives you a quick summary of what to expect on the test — including the number of questions, duration, difficulty level, and top study tips to help you prepare smarter. Perfect for anyone revising Human Performance or planning to take the exam soon.

• Number of Questions: ~48

• Duration: 1 hour

• Difficulty: Medium

• Key Focus Areas: Aviation physiology, psychology, fatigue, communication, human error

Explore key subtopics & core concepts of the Human Performance and Limitations Syllabus

This subject examines the physiological and psychological impacts of the flight environment on the human body, focusing on problems associated with long-duration, high-altitude flying. 

Every question in HPL links back to how you, as a pilot, think, react, and make decisions under pressure. Be aware that some questions are tricky and scenario-based; the seemingly obvious answer is often incorrect. Focus on understanding why the correct answer makes sense operationally — not just memorizing it — and you’ll find this subject much easier. 

Prepare smarter for your ATPL exams with the Airhead Question Bank — the most up-to-date source of real ATPL exam questions across all EASA subjects. Study offline anytime and boost your confidence for exam day.

Practise Human Performance & Limitations questions with Airhead ATPL