Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/120548
None of us is immune to inattentional blindness. The first step in avoiding its pitfalls is to be conscious of it. Directly in the pilots' line of sight, the altitude meter was spiraling downward. It's possible both pilots actually looked at it but failed to register what it was telling them. Only when the plane was 7 seconds from impact did the co-pilot finally realize that something was seriously wrong. Co-pilot: "We did something to the altitude." Captain: "What?" Co-pilot: "We're still at 2,000, right?" Captain: "Hey, what's happening here?" The captain pulled back hard on the stick, but it was too late. The plane crashed into the Florida Everglades, killing 101 people. The nose wheel did in fact lock into position during the initial approach. It was the $12 indicator light that was faulty (the bulb had burnt out). This is a dramatic (and tragic) example of being too busy looking at other things to see something that's really important — and one that had dire consequences. On a different level, I see this a lot in my consulting work. Clients often come to me fixated on one issue or problem, when in fact there is a more significant one staring them in the face that warrants their attention first. Usually this is not due to a lack of understanding but rather a lack of attention or, more precisely, a misallocation of attentional resources between or within departments, similar to the situation described at the beginning of this article. One of the best assets a consultant in any field brings to the table is a fresh set of eyes. Had a third pilot walked into the cockpit of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 as the drama was unfolding, it's highly likely his "fresh eyes" would have immediately seen what the incumbent pilots could not. My wider point is that none of us is immune to inattentional blindness. The first step in avoiding its pitfalls is to be conscious of it. The crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 401 changed the way pilots are trained. The problem with the faulty light bulb was not just that the captain fixated on it, but that the co-pilot did, too. The entire available pool of attentional resources was focused on a single thing. To avoid this situation whenever you are operating, maintaining or troubleshooting hydraulic equipment, regularly ask yourself: What else should I be paying attention to right now? From page 42 About the Author Brendan Casey is the founder of HydraulicSupermarket.com and the author of Insider Secrets to Hydraulics, Preventing Hydraulic Failures, Hydraulics Made Easy, Advanced Hydraulic Control and The Definitive Guide to Hydraulic Troubleshooting. A hydraulics specialist with a master's degree in business administration, he has more than 20 years of experience in the design, maintenance and repair of mobile and industrial hydraulic equipment. Visit his website at www.HydraulicSupermarket.com. www.machinerylubrication.com | March - April 2013 | 25