Avoid 'Expectation Bias' In Critical Situations

“Money is the the root of all evil.” Did you notice the extra “the” in that sentence?

Expectation Bias led us to expect the same familiar phrase. This concept can apply in many aviation situations such as the following:

Coming in from the south and landing east at Flying Cloud, you would expect to land on the long SOUTH parallel, 10R.

However, tower clears you to land on 10L, the NORTH parallel. You read back “Cleared to land 10L” but then proceed to land on 10R. This has actually happened and the pilot was even aware of the clearance to land on the left runway.

But Expectation Bias can be a s...