Pilot Error in Copying Air Traffic Control Clearances

Abstract

A study investigating the accuracy of pilots' copying air traffic control clearances is described. Twentyfour airline pilots listened to 28 taped clearances and copied them down on an answer sheet using shorthand, longhand, or some combination of these according to their preferences. The copied clearances were analyzed by the number of correctly copied elements, the number of omitted elements, and the number of extraneous elements that were not present in the original clearance. Preliminary results indicate a strong influence of habit and familiar operating environment and procedures on the accuracy of copying unfamiliar information. Common errors included victor-airways copied as jet-airways, low altitudes copied as much higher, and slow speeds copied as much higher. The vulnerability of controller-pilot communications to the effects of unfamiliarity is apparent. A detailed analysis of these data may provide for a better understanding of the shortcomings of controller-pilot communication.