Which scenario illustrates complacency due to automation?

• A. Relying Too Heavily On Automation And Failing To Manually Verify Critical Readouts
• B. Have One Crew Member Verify
• C. Cross-Check Fuel Quantity And Configuration Using The Overhead Panel
• D. Cross-Check Fuel With A Second Crew Member And Verify Against The Readout

Answer: (A)

Automation-induced complacency happens when pilots trust automated systems so much that they stop actively validating the data themselves. When you rely too heavily on automation and fail to manually verify critical readouts, you may miss errors, sensor faults, or data mismatches that the automation is presenting, especially if the system behaves oddly or drifts from the actual situation. This lack of independent verification erodes situational awareness and slows the crew’s ability to detect and respond to problems, which is exactly what complacency in an automated environment looks like.

The other scenarios depict active verification or cross-checking, which counter complacency: having a second crew member verify readings and cross-checking fuel quantities against the readout are practices that maintain vigilance and ensure data integrity rather than assuming automation is always correct.