Abstract for: Breaking the Stall: System Dynamics Unveils Hidden Traps in Aviation Safety

Despite decades of research and advancements in safety systems, stalls remain a leading cause of fatal airline disasters. This paper introduces a System Dynamics model to explain why pilots fall into the stall “error trap” and make erroneous inputs. It highlights the psycho-technical challenges and discusses a recent major transformation in the airline industry's stall prevention strategy to address these core challenges effectively. This paper employs a System Dynamics model, utilizing causal loops and stocks and flows, to uncover an unforeseen instability in the human-airplane system-of-systems. This instability explains why previous airline methods to cover it up were ineffective, leading to persistent stall-related disasters despite extensive safety measures and training. The System Dynamics model revealed an unforeseen instability in the human-airplane system-of-systems, explaining why previous airline methods to cover it up were ineffective. This instability leads to pilots falling into the stall “error trap” and making erroneous inputs during recovery attempts, highlighting the need for a major transformation in the airline industry's stall prevention strategy. This paper uses system dynamics to uncover and explain the psychological-technical challenges the airlines industry has been struggling to overcome for over 100 years. This method may be useful to reveal other similar recurring human-error accidents leading to improvements to policies, systems, or training.