Quantcast

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

Air Canada could begin suspending flights soon as strike deadline nears
JetBlue's new ticket policy entitles every passenger to a carry-on bag
Why United Airlines’ CEO makes as few decisions as possible
American invests in the future of aviation maintenance with new jobs, additional work
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
Here's where American Airlines is adding flights to Europe in summer 2025
Major airline grounds Airbus A350 fleet, citing faulty engine component
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
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

Flying Food Group has announced the retirement of Armando de Santiago after 11 years of service at its Denver facility, as said in a LinkedIn post.

Aug 4, 2025

Emirates will introduce a fourth daily flight between Dubai and London Gatwick starting 8 February 2026.

Aug 4, 2025

UPS has operated one of the longest direct air cargo routes in the United States since 2018, connecting Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) in Kentucky with Dubai International Airport (DXB) in the United Arab Emirates.

Aug 2, 2025

The Boeing 737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the 737 family, designed to compete with the Airbus A321neo.

Aug 2, 2025

Russian airline Aeroflot reported significant flight disruptions on Monday, July 28, due to a failure in its information systems.

Aug 2, 2025

After more than four years, American Airlines will reintroduce its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft on the New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) route starting October 6.

Aug 2, 2025