What is described as having too much to attend to at one time?

Task saturation refers to a state in which an individual has more tasks or responsibilities to manage than they can effectively handle at a given moment. This concept highlights the limits of cognitive capacity, where the demands of multiple tasks exceed an aircrew member's ability to process information and respond appropriately.

In a high-stress environment, such as operating an aircraft, an aircrew member may experience task saturation when they are inundated with inputs from various sources, such as managing the aircraft's systems, communicating with crew members, and monitoring the flight environment. When saturation occurs, there is a heightened risk of errors, as individuals may struggle to prioritize or manage the overload of information and demands on their attention.

Understanding task saturation is crucial for aircrew as it can affect decision-making, situational awareness, and overall performance. Being aware of this phenomenon allows crews to implement strategies to mitigate its effects, such as delegating tasks, utilizing checklists, or simplifying processes when possible to maintain safe operations.