Pilots, others can learn to increase attention span, says safety expert

About 450 pilots and other aviation professionals are in Wichita this week for Bombardier’s 18th annual Safety Standdown, which focuses on attention control techniques for pilots.

Distractions increase risks to aviation safety, and techniques to help focus attention help reduce that risk, said Andy Nureddin, vice president for customer support and training at Bombardier Business Aircraft.

“This week, competition fades to the background as we look to learn and share for a common goal in making our skies safer,” Nureddin said.

The free event brings pilots and others from flight departments around the country that operate planes built by all manufacturers, not only Bombardier planes.

Held at the Hyatt Regency Wichita hotel, it runs through Thursday.

Pat Daily, president and managing partner of Convergent Performance, said that attention is both a capacity and a capability.

The average adult has an attention span of about 30 minutes at most. It’s actually closer to 20 minutes, Daily said in a presentation called “Attention Control Techniques.”

“I blame Facebook,” Daily said. And cellphones.

The ability to focus and concentrate is important.

The National Transportation Safety Board found that “inadequate monitoring” was a factor in 31 of every 37 major airplane accidents.

It was a factor in 63 percent of approach and landing accidents and in 50 percent of all runway incursion accidents, studies have shown, Daily said.

People have a limited amount of attention, Daily said, and they also can get distracted by “shiny objects” that clutter thinking.

To a certain degree, however, “your ability to pay attention to something can be strengthened and controlled,” he said.

In general, “the greater the person’s intelligence, the greater the ability to focus attention and limit distractions,” Daily said.

Those who can focus attention are perceived to be smarter as well, he said.

In English, we say “pay attention,” Daily said. Not paying attention can come with a price.

“The price of that can sometimes mean death,” he said.

Fatigue, age and anxiety also can affect a person’s attention span.

A little anxiety is good, he said, but too much diminishes the ability to focus.

So can one’s “busy-ness,” Daily said. “It’s a huge enemy of attention. … Are you busy or are you thoughtful? Are you busy because you have a habit of being busy because you’re used to pulling out your phone every two minutes?”

Instead, “choose to focus,” he said. “Choose to ignore. Choose to set distractions aside. Put your phone away. … Pick some time to be thoughtful.”

Mindfulness training can also help.

“It’s not just hot-tub psychobabble,” Daily said.

And exercise can help.

For 10 minutes, sit upright in a comfortable chair with eyes closed. Concentrate only on breathing.

When your mind wanders, bring your attention back to your breathing, he said.

Pilots also can benefit from frequent breaks, even if it’s to stand up long enough to stretch.

Get physical exercise.

And “check out this mindfulness stuff,” Daily said.

This story was originally published October 6, 2014 at 6:02 PM with the headline "Pilots, others can learn to increase attention span, says safety expert."