Applying the Perceptual Cycle Model (PCM) over an Aircraft Approach and Landing Procedure

Runway Overruns (ROs) are the result of an aircraft rolling beyond the end of a runway, being one of the accident's types that most frequently occurs on aviation. ROs usually happen in landing phase and are a consequence of adverse weather, unstable approaches, long touchdowns, poor runway surface conditions, deficiencies in aerodrome facilities and inadequate use of deceleration devices. As these precursors are correlated with decisions taken by the pilots during the approach and landing procedure, the current work aims to analyse their decision-making process with the addend of the Perceptual Cycle Model (PCM). Interviews with two (2) pilots were conducted to capture this process. A process that was analysed via the Schema Theory as incorporated in the PCM, providing adequate causal explanations for erroneous decisions and raising recommendations.

Keywords: Aviation, Runway overrun, Naturalistic decision making, Perceptual cycle model.