Plain English Meaning

Getting stuck staring at one thing and forgetting to keep flying the airplane and watching everything else.

Full Definition

A breakdown in attention management in which a pilot focuses on a single task, instrument, or problem to the exclusion of other essential flight duties, resulting in loss of overall situational awareness.

Context Anchor

Seen in human factors and task management discussions, especially when a pilot is handling several cockpit tasks at once.

Derivation

From Latin 'fixus' meaning 'fastened' or 'made firm.' The pilot's attention becomes fastened to one thing and cannot easily move off it. The origin reinforces the idea that fixation is not just looking at something — it is being stuck on it.