# Internal and external risk factors analysis on pilot precondition in Indonesia

## TL;DR

This study examines how internal and external factors affect pilot preconditions in Indonesia, highlighting the importance of both physical and mental health for aviation safety.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific internal and external risk factors correlated with pilot preconditions using the HFACS framework in an Indonesian context.

## Key findings

- Waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose are internal factors linked to pilot preconditions.
- External factors like flight time, number of sectors, and sleep duration significantly correlate with pilot preconditions.
- Burnout and sleep duration are key mental and behavioral factors affecting pilot readiness.

## Abstract

Pilot errors accounted for 80% of accidents and 50% of serious incidents. The Human Factor Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) allows the identification of pilot preconditions as an imminent layer of error. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between internal and external risk factors and pilot preconditions in Indonesia.

A cross-sectional study design with purposive sampling, directed to male pilots who had flight duty in the past seven days, underwent medical examination at the Aviation Medical Center, Jakarta, August 12–16, 2024. The data were collected through a self-report questionnaire, Trail Making Test A and B, laboratory tests (plasma lipid, fasting blood glucose), and physical measurements (height, weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure). The independent variables included internal (Age, Burnout, Metabolic Syndrome parameters) and external (Flight Time, Duty Time, Unscheduled Flight Duty, Number of Sectors, Sleep Duration). The dependent variables were pilot preconditions based on the HFACS.

A total of 122 participants participated in this study. Among them, 28.7% had an unscheduled flight duty in the last 30 d. Significant correlations were found between Adverse Mental State and HDL-cholesterol (95%CI=1.52 – 5.80), Adverse Physiological State and Burnout [personal (95%CI=0.005–0,04), work-related (95%CI=0.009–0.042)], Physical Mental Limitation and Fasting Blood Glucose (95%CI =(-0.479)–(-0.071)), and Number of Sectors (95%CI=0.022–3.001). For Personal Readiness (PR), a significant correlation was found between PR-psychological demand and Flight-Time One Year (95%CI=(0.000 – 0.001), Sleep Duration (95%CI =(-0.137)–(-0.013)), Waist Circumference (95%CI =(-0.014)–(-0.002)), PR-Social Support and Sleep Duration (95%IK=0.018–0.207), and Client-Related Burnout (95%IK =(-0.011)–(-0.002)).

The internal factors that correlated with pilot preconditions in Indonesia were waist circumference, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting blood glucose, personal burnout, work, and client-related burnout. External factors that correlated with pilot preconditions were the number of sectors, Flight-Time One Year and Sleep duration. These findings emphasize the need to address both physical and mental health aspects of pilots to enhance aviation safety.