The Role of Cognitive Load in Decision-Making Process for Pilots in High Intensity Environments

This paper explores the critical role of cognitive load in the aviation decision- making process, emphasizing its impact on flight safety and pilots’ performance. Cognitive load, the amount of working memory resources used to learn a new subject or to solve a problem, is usually understood as the information-gathering part that happens at the beginning of a decision- making process, but in fact, it is present through every step of a decision-making model. This is illustrated through an in-depth analysis of cognitive load theory and three decision-making models, particularly the DECIDE model. The study provides a comprehensive examination of how cognitive load influences pilot actions during high-stakes situations, highlighting two pivotal aviation incidents, the “Miracle on the Hudson” and Air France Flight 447. These case studies serve as empirical evidence to support the assertion that managing cognitive load is essential for effective decision-making in aviation.