Re: [Phys-L] multitasking

["John Clement" <clement@hal-pc.org>]

Have they done any testing to justify this stance?  The testing has been
done with cell phones and texting, and it is frightening.  As I recall you
are 40 times more likely to have an accident if you text while driving.  But
they found that radios and conversations with a passenger have only a small
effect, while cell phone talking is a large distraction which increases the
danger considerably.  Can you really park a car safely with one hand while
talking on a phone?  I just saw someone do this.

The fact that they want pilots to train to multitask does not necessarily
make planes safer.  The fact that they mandate certain things is not an
indication of what should actually be done.  "So how do you know this?"
Where is the research evidence for this specific practice.  Mentioning the
mandates are just an appeal to authority.

John M. Clement
Houston, TX


> Note the following contrast:
>  -- In many jurisdictions, drivers are _forbidden_ to talk 
>   on the phone while driving.
>  -- Meanwhile, pilots are _required_ to talk on the radio
>   while flying the airplane.  It's a requirement for getting
>   a pilot certificate, at any level from private pilot on
>   up;  see e.g.
>     
> www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/airmen/test_standards/pil
> ot/media/FAA-S-8081-14B.pdf
>   where it mentions "transmits".
>
> More generally, consider the part where the Practical Test
> Standard talks about division of attention:
>
> > > the examiner shall cause realistic distractions during the 
> flight portion of
> > > the practical test to evaluate the applicant's ability to 
> divide attention
> > > while maintaining safe flight.
>
> I find it ironic that an activity that is forbidden in the 
> car is required in the airplane.