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Spiegel Interview with Flight Psychologist Reiner Kemmler

'We are More and More at the Mercy of Technology'

Computers are being relied upon to do more and more flying than pilots. In an interview with SPIEGEL, flight psychologist Reiner Kemmler, 68, talks about the difficult relationship between pilots and computers and the anxiety that passengers feel about these changes.

SPIEGEL: What does the computerization of the cockpit mean for pilots?

Reiner Kemmler: Pilots aren't the bearded daredevils in cool Ray-Bans they used to be. Today, he or she is primarily a systems manager. Stress for pilots doesn't begin in the air, but on the ground. Before takeoff, he or she feeds all kinds of data into the flight computer, which takes a lot of concentration. Pilots today have to know more, plan better, know the systems well and be able to think ahead.

SPIEGEL: Can that lead to mental overload?

Kemmler: Sure. Pilots are already at the edge of what they can visually process and comprehend in the cockpit.

SPIEGEL: What are the consequences of these increased demands?

Kemmler: Pilots understand the plane superficially, at best. Almost no one can have a deep understanding of the steering software. That's usually not an issue. Just the opposite, in fact: Computers do part of the pilot's job for them. But the consequence is that pilots get distracted. People get naturally drowsy and can't keep themselves in a constant state of readiness when they have nothing to do in the air. People act better than they react. Flexibility is a human strength.

SPIEGEL: And in an emergency?

Kemmler: When pilots do most of their flying using automated systems, they unfortunately don't get a lot of experience flying manually. When systems fail, this lack of experience can become a real curse. And simulator training can't fully compensate for it. For this reason, emergency situations need to be mentally rehearsed -- and especially the feelings that they create -- in a way that simulators can't replicate by themselves. Doing so ensures that pilots won't be surprised by their own emotions in a crisis.

SPIEGEL: Are people the biggest risk factor on board?

Kemmler: We usually hear about the tragic cases when people make mistakes rather than the thousands of situations when extraordinary human creativity and imagination help avoid danger. If we had left the lunar landing to computers, Neil Armstrong would've never set foot on the moon. It's only because he bravely shut off the autopilot that the lander didn't hit a crater.

SPIEGEL: Are you opposed to more automation?

Kemmler: No. I also see the advantages. Besides, there's more economic pressure on the airlines to give the computer more functions and reduce the pilot's role to that of a watchdog. That's a natural consequence of the fact that experts on the ground have greater control over the computers. In the end, it might be that we only have one person sitting in the cockpit, if any. The industry is already a lot closer to eliminating the second pilot than pilots would like to see.

SPIEGEL: How do you think passengers react when they learn just how much a computer is controlling their plane?

Kemmler: It depends on their level of familiarity with technology. Some have had bad experiences with people's abilities to control complex machines and are thrilled that a computer is looking over the pilot's shoulder. Others find it weird when their car mysteriously refuses to start or their PC crashes. Such people are more likely to fear flying in the future because they will find themselves more and more at the mercy of technology.