Plain English Meaning

Things going on in a pilot's head — stress, tiredness, pressure to get home, overconfidence, distraction — that can lead to poor flying decisions or mistakes, even when the airplane and weather are fine.

Full Definition

In aviation, psychological hazards are mental, emotional, or perceptual conditions that impair a pilot's judgment, decision-making, or performance in the cockpit. They include factors such as stress, fatigue, complacency, hazardous attitudes, get-there-itis, , and emotional distraction — anything that compromises 's ability to think clearly and fly safely.