Safety Bulletin

Enhancing Pilot Monitoring

May 27, 2024

Abstract

IFALPA recognizes the critical roles of Pilot Flying (PF) and Pilot Monitoring (PM) as foundational elements in flight deck operations. While the aviation industry has established clear definitions and responsibilities for these specific roles, IFALPA advocates for a renewed focus on the monitoring tasks associated with both the pilot flying and monitoring positions during all phases of flight. This leaflet aims to highlight the pilot monitoring tasks, supporting flight safety and operational efficiency, and introduce tools for enhancing its effectiveness in the cockpit.

This briefing also introduces a theoretical background on human perception, cognition, and a model of situational awareness for pilot monitoring tasks. It then describes five tools designed to enhance monitoring effectiveness and their real-world applications. The reader is invited either to review the complete document or to review the tools individually, with references to the theoretical background where necessary.