Free PPL human performance 040 questions: 8 with answers

The 8 questions

1. Question 1 · 1 human factors and psychology

   Automatic human functioning:

   • Aallows him to monitor his own actions.
   • Bconsumes a great deal of resources.
   • Cis abnormal in a pilot, as it leads to routine errors.
   • Dis normal in a pilot, but leads to routine errors.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: D. is normal in a pilot, but leads to routine errors.

   What this multiple-choice question calls automatic functioning refers to actions performed without thinking, things done so often that they no longer require much attention. This type of functioning is very effective, as it frees up mental resources for other tasks that require more attention. The downside, since there always is one, is that this mode of functioning is not "monitored" by our attention, which can lead to routine errors.

2. Question 2 · 1 human factors and psychology

   The hazardous attitude known as 'macho' is characterized by:

   • Athe need to prove one's abilities by taking unnecessary risks.
   • Bpermanent excessive caution.
   • Ca tendency to always follow procedures.
   • Dan excessive fear of flying.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. the need to prove one's abilities by taking unnecessary risks.

   The 'macho' attitude drives the pilot to want to demonstrate their skills by taking disproportionate risks, sometimes at the expense of safety.

3. Question 3 · 1 human factors and psychology

   Intense and prolonged stress leads to:

   • Aa decrease in heart rate and performance.
   • Ban increase in heart rate and performance.
   • Ca decrease in heart rate, sweating, and fatigue.
   • Dan increase in heart rate, sweating, and fatigue.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: D. an increase in heart rate, sweating, and fatigue.

   Stress triggers the release of adrenaline: the heart rate speeds up and sweating increases to prepare the body for action. If stress is intense and prolonged, the body exhausts its reserves and fatigue sets in, with a drop in performance.

4. Question 4 · 2 Aviation physiology and health

   Climbing to a cruising level of FL115, the percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere:

   • Aremains constant.
   • Bincreases in the lower layers and then decreases.
   • Cdecreases in the lower layers and then increases.
   • Dvaries according to pressure.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. remains constant.

   The proportion of gases in the atmosphere remains constant up to a very high altitude.

5. Question 5 · 2 Aviation physiology and health

   Peripheral vision:

   • Ais only useful at night.
   • Bperceives details and is sensitive to colors.
   • Ccan replace central vision in case of failure, with the same accuracy.
   • Dis sensitive to movement and changes in brightness.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: D. is sensitive to movement and changes in brightness.

   The characteristics of peripheral vision are: - sensitive to low light levels (more effective at night than central vision), - sensitive to movement, - insensitive to color (grayscale vision).

6. Question 6 · 2 Aviation physiology and health

   In flight, hyperventilation in a pilot can be avoided or reduced by:

   • Aincreasing the flight level.
   • Bvoluntarily slowing down the breathing rate.
   • Ctaking anxiolytic medication beforehand.
   • Dvoluntary preventive hyperventilation on the ground.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: B. voluntarily slowing down the breathing rate.

   Hyperventilation is an increase in the depth and rate of breathing. What is perfectly normal during sport becomes very troublesome when it is stress that causes the hyperventilation. The blood's acid-base balance will be disrupted and cause undesirable effects. In case of hyperventilation, you must therefore force yourself to slow your breathing to return to a normal rate.

7. Question 7 · 2 Aviation physiology and health

   The 'black hole' illusion typically occurs:

   • Aduring a night approach to an isolated runway surrounded by darkness, without intermediate light references.
   • Bin broad daylight under clear skies.
   • Conly during takeoff.
   • Donly at high altitude.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. during a night approach to an isolated runway surrounded by darkness, without intermediate light references.

   The 'black hole' approach occurs at night toward an isolated airfield without surrounding visual references, which can lead the pilot to perceive the approach as too high and descend dangerously low.

8. Question 8 · 2 Aviation physiology and health

   Hypemic hypoxia is characterized by:

   • Aa reduction in the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, for example due to CO poisoning or anaemia.
   • Ba lack of oxygen in the ambient air at altitude only.
   • Can inability of tissues to use oxygen despite a normal supply.
   • Da drop in atmospheric pressure only.
   Show the answer+

   Answer: A. a reduction in the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, for example due to CO poisoning or anaemia.

   Hypemic hypoxia results from a reduced capacity of the blood to carry oxygen, for example in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning (CO preferentially binds to haemoglobin) or anaemia.

Each answer was checked again before publication; like every explanation on the site, these may contain errors. Some explanations were rewritten for this page, sometimes with the help of an AI. Spotted a mistake? Write to us at contact@forallpilots.com.

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