What is a non-physiological factor that can lead to impaired judgment in pilots?

Fatigue from long duty hours is recognized as a significant factor that can impair judgment in pilots. When pilots experience fatigue, their cognitive functions, including attention, decision-making, risk perception, and reaction time, can be adversely affected. This impairment can lead to lapses in judgment, decreased situational awareness, and an increased likelihood of errors in both decision-making and execution of flight tasks.

Understanding the importance of managing fatigue is essential in aviation, as long duty hours without adequate rest can accumulate and exacerbate the effects of tiredness. Pilots are trained to recognize the signs of fatigue and are encouraged to maintain proper rest schedules to ensure optimal performance. In this context, fatigue is a non-physiological factor because it arises from workload and environmental factors rather than a direct physiological issue like hypoxia or dehydration.

The other options, while they can influence pilot performance or health directly, relate more to physiological aspects or specific flight conditions. Thus, focusing on fatigue emphasizes the role of operational factors in maintaining effective cognitive functioning in aviation.