Quantcast

Understanding pilot-induced oscillations: causes, effects, solutions, and technological impacts

DOT probe seeks to determine if frequent flyer programs are fair to travelers
American Airlines flight diverted after passenger starts vaping
Russian Airline Wants $100 Million From Canada for Seizing Its Giant Cargo Plane
Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Regulator cuts Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate duration after probe
United Airlines flight attendants are prepared to strike. Here's why it's still unlikely.
2 workers killed, 1 injured in tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines shop in Atlanta
Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA
Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up
LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger clears Justice Department hurdle, now faces DOT
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
Understanding pilot-induced oscillations: causes, effects, solutions, and technological impacts
Policy
Webp received 693086223403749
Air France Boeing B777-300ER | Official Website

Pilot-induced oscillation (PIO) is a critical issue in aviation, characterized by a feedback loop where the pilot's control inputs exacerbate rather than stabilize an aircraft's flight path. Modern advancements in automated flight control systems aim to reduce the incidence of PIOs but can sometimes complicate situations by competing with pilot inputs.

Skybrary describes PIOs as "sustained or uncontrollable oscillations resulting from the efforts of the pilot to control the aircraft.” The oscillations occur when a pilot inadvertently commands increasing series of corrections in opposite directions.

Recent incidents, such as a Boeing B777-300ER operated by Air France at Tokyo Narita Airport, highlight how PIOs can arise during critical phases of flight like landing.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Skybrary explains, "The majority of severe PIO events result from some deficiency in the design of the aircraft Flight Control Systems (FCS) that result in an adverse coupling of the pilot with the aircraft."

According to NASA's research, "The great diversity of human pilot response patterns, excessive lags and/or inappropriate gain in effective aircraft dynamics, and transitions in either the human or effective aircraft dynamics are among the key sources implicated as factors in severe PIOs." Delays in the aircraft's reaction to pilot input can lead to increased overcorrection by the pilot.

Technological interference with pilot input is a significant concern. Automated systems may improve safety but can also introduce complexities when not properly integrated or understood.

Solutions for PIOs include effective training practices. LE Aviation suggests that "the PIO can be conquered through sufficient practice of go-arounds after the main gear touches the ground."

To mitigate the risks, pilots are encouraged to increase their experience and focus during critical phases of flight. Automatic systems should be implemented thoughtfully, ensuring pilots retain manual flying skills.

As aviation technology evolves, it is crucial to maintain a balance between advanced systems and human control to minimize PIO occurrences and ensure the safety of air travel.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Qantas, the national airline of Australia, is preparing to receive its first Airbus A321XLR next week.

Jul 1, 2025

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner series, produced by the Chicago-based aircraft manufacturer Boeing, includes several variants that have been developed to meet diverse airline needs.

Jul 1, 2025

Airbus has not introduced a new aircraft family since the Airbus A350 was launched over ten years ago.

Jul 1, 2025

Boeing has made significant progress in addressing a critical issue with its 777X aircraft, which faced delays due to a thrust link problem discovered in 2024.

Jul 1, 2025

Korean Air is set to continue operating its Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8 aircraft longer than initially planned due to delays in receiving new planes from manufacturers.

Jul 1, 2025

Emirates has announced a reduction in its Airbus A380 flights to London Gatwick Airport, cutting back from three to two daily services.

Jul 1, 2025