Investigating pilots´ cognitive processes in aviation accidents

This paper demonstrates that, in relation to the investigation of aviation accidents, pilots´ perception, cognition and action can be modelled within two cognitive architectures; the established approach using knowledge-based cognitive architectures, and the interacting cognitive subsystem (ICS) architecture, which offers a diagrammatic approach focusing on humans in interaction with their environment. We argue that a holistic approach offers a deeper understanding of the pilot´s cognitive and physiological processes in aviation accidents. We conclude that the former method lacks provision for retrospective modelling or nonexpert behaviour, unless simple cognitive-behavioural processes are to be analysed. ICS offers these possibilities, but requires an analyst to be highly skilled in the complex psychological theory of the model