Aircraft Safety and Human Factors - Essay Example

Aircraft safety and Human Factors Aircraft safety and Human Factors Aircraft safety and Human Factors 2Aircraft safety and Human Factors In a majority of the cases, human error accidents are directly linked with the psychological condition of the individual(s) at that time INTRODUCTION The human mind is infinitely more complex than any mechanical device on the face of the earth, and much of its functioning is still unpredictable. 80% of all accidents are caused by human error. In fact, dig dip into any accident, and the balance 20% can also in all probability be traced back to human as the root cause. Human factors encompass a wide range of knowledge, skills and attitudes including communications, situational awareness, problem solving, decision-making, and teamwork. What would, or should have otherwise been, a simple straightforward decision based on (presumably) clearly defined rules, very often has been colored by extraneous factors that are weighed on unfathomable weighing scales inside the human minds Aviation is basically a combination of four ingredients, viz. Man, Machine, Medium and Mission-the four Ms.Sucessful integration of all the four culminates in a safe flight. Safety In aviation is achieved by implementation of in stringent measures at various levels-be the production, training or operations. Great emphasis is given towards production of aircraft. Innumerable test sorties are flown on prototypes before clearing them for production. Once came into the service, maintaince schedules are laid down at various stages to ensure trouble free flying. Similarly the crew operating the aircraft undergoes rigorous training to hone their flying skills. Great emphasis is given towards training of ground crew too, which encompasses all crew not flying but directly or indirectly associated Aircraft safety and Human Factors 3 with flying operations. Varios checks are instituted to monitor the health of aircraft and the knowledge of aircrews and ground crews. Despite so much concern and effort however, accidents do take place due to varied reasons and it has been found that the man behind the machine causes almost 80% of the accidents in aviation due to omissions or commissions. Why is it so Why does the same specie, that gas designed and mastered the machine and understood its intricacies, cause an accident due to an error How is the man weakest link among Four Ms These are the questions that need to be answered in the interest of flight safety. Human factors Human factors includes studies human capabilities, system analysis and design, process control and automation, skill acquisition, information processing and display, operator workload, and task-induced stress, human-computer interaction, environmental effects on performance, and accident prevention. Human factors is concerned with the cognitive and interpersonal skills required to manage the flight within an organized aviation system. Cognitive skills are the mental processes required for gaining and maintaining situational awareness, for solving problems and for taking decisions. Interpersonal skills include effective communications and good teamwork. Good interpersonal skills encourage the creation of synergy and the development of successful teamwork. Both cognitive and interpersonal skills are enhanced by a good emotional climate amongst the crew, but they are also easily degraded by stress, so management of the emotional climate and stress becomes and integral and important element of good human factors. Human factors play significant roles in more accidents than do mechanical failures. Accordingly, crew resource Aircraft safety and Human Factors 4 Management and other human factors-related training are emphasized in most flight training. Human factors often place demands on the pilot that contrast with those of technology. Pilots must integrate skillful operation of an aircraft with subtle but powerful factors within themselves. (Frank& Harry 112) Flight Deck Management reports:( wcupa.edu) 1. In 76% of accidents over the 30 years up to 1989 the main causal factors were due to cockpit crew human errors. 2. In 1988, 80% of hull losses were classified as being due to human factor errors. 3. The primary cause in many accidents is the Captain's failure to control, and the Co-pilot's failure to monitor. 4. Crew members are the final opportunity to stop errors, but the crews are also human Safe and efficient flight operations depend for their success not only on the attainment of sound technical knowledge and skills but also on the mastery by aircrew of the cognitive and interpersonal skills which form the basis of good human factors. Human factors is not merely an abstract management concept but rather is a discipline that embraces principles and skills which, when coupled with good technical knowledge and expertise, will allow the crew to make the best use of all available resources to realize optimum effectiveness in the conduct of operations whilst simultaneously maximizing the safety of the flight. 1.Gain insight into the impact of human performance on aircraft maintenance 2.Understand how organizational factors are critical to safe aircraft maintenance 3.Identify what factors can affect human performance, and how to identify and control them Aircraft safety and Human Factors 5 4.Learn how to establish a Human Factors and Error Management programme 5.Discover the role of disciplinary policies in creating an environment to investigate errors Psychological Aspect It is estimated that 80% of aviation accidents are caused due to human error. Extensiuve investigations are carried out to find the cause of the accidents. It is usually assumed that the crew had the capacity to perform their allotted task, and if they did not do so, they are held responsible for the accident and punished (if they are alive). Seldom is any thought given on the reason behind the error .Why do these highly trained physically fit crew errs Any investigation is incomplete if the psychological aspect of the crew is not analysed. Man, though a highly intelligent animal, suffers from psychological issues of varied nature, which have a bearing on aviation. They are Attitude, Motivation and Stress. Human Errors & Effect of Stress in Aviation Excessive emotional stress in an aircrew leads to one or more of the following (Hebbar 55): 1.Judgement error. 2.Lack of concentration 3.Tunnel vision 4.Fixation 5.Poor CRM 6.Fatigue. Fatigue is an important factor in aviation accidents, and effective fatigue management requires understanding the relationship between working conditions and fatigue Regression of fatigue increase upon working conditions indicated that the number of Aircraft safety and Human Factors 6 takeoffs and landings during the day were related to fatigue development. Fatigue management should be founded upon the demands of working conditions, not merely the simplistic assessment of hours of work. The most common effect of excessive stress in an aircrew during flying is fixation and tunnel vision, and most accidents have taken place due to these two factors. These also cause reduction of verbal communication, which has a direct bearing on CRM. In the case of ground crew too, emotional stress plays an important role in safe handling and maintaince of aircraft. Highly qualified and efficient ground crew has committed many mistakes, which have resulted in many an incident and few accidents. Inadvertent operation of engine bay fire extinguishers, failing to remove blanks from equipments post inspection, manoeuvring support vehicles into aircraft etc., are a few examples committed by the ground crew. The list is no doubt innumerable. Pilot errors are recognized as a contributing factor in as many as 80% of aviation crashes. Overall, 23% of pilot errors were attributable to inattentiveness, 20% to flawed decisions, 18% to mishandled aircraft kinetics, and 18% to mishandled wind/runway conditions. Today's aircraft cockpits are complex environments requiring pilots to monitor a large number of automated displays and alarm systems. Aviation mishaps caused by maintenance factors vary in severity, but can cost untold sums in lives and equipment lost in aircraft mishaps. The factors of inadequate design, inadequate adaptability/flexibility, inadequate lighting/light, confining workspace, and attention/memory error increased odds of being associated with a higher severity mishap. Aircraft safety and Human Factors 7 Air traffic control (ATC) system errors rarely occur in today's system. . Nevertheless, more than 90% of all the system errors that do occur stem from human mistakes in attention, judgment, and communications by controllers and their supervisors. Current levels of air traffic are already pressing the capacity of today's system. Future traffic is predicted to increase significantly, but economic and other factors place severe limits on the number of airports and runways that can be built. Resultant traffic congestion and controller work load, despite automation efforts, could increase the error rate and degrade the system's tolerance for errors. Several ATC-related aircraft accidents happens due to the controller's changing role and the manner in which the controller interacts with pilots, other controllers, and the work environment. Suggested Remedial Measures In depth studies needs to be undertaken to understand the psychological aspects involved in aircraft incidents/accidents. Some method to tackle the problems arising due to psychological aspects are enumerated below (Hebbar 80): Behavior Reinforcement A superior who knows his job can modify attitude and motivation in favor of the establishment without aggravating the situation. Behavior reinforcement is of two types-positive and negative. Positive reinforcement is the strengthening of desired behavior by means of reward, whereas negative reinforcement is discouragement of undesired behavior by means of punitive measures. Pilot Judgment Training (PJT) Aircraft safety and Human Factors 8 Pilot Judgment Training should be introduced in flying syllabus to improve the reflexes of the pilots in extreme conditions. The capsule should emphasize on procedures, perceptions and decision-making in various extremes of flight. Regular capsule courses may be introduced at different stages of the career to reinforce the judgment process Aviation Psychology indoctrination Supervisory staff needs to know more about the psychological aspect of human error accidents/incidents in order to prevent their recurrence. A capsule on aviation psychology needs to be introduced in all major courses for pilots and crew. This will enable them to handle their subordinates sensitively, and thereby get better output. Improvements in Working Environment The working environment has a direct bearing on stress and motivation. A conducive atmosphere at work reduces stress, and increases motivation level of the crew. At ground level, the supervisory staff plays an important role in improving the working environment. They should interact with their subordinates frequently in an informal manner to encourage them to discuss their opinions and feelings frankly. Supervisors must involve the crew in the decision making process to make them feel part of the system. A good manager takes suggestions from the crew but decides the best course of action on his own. Man Management Techniques A fresher course on effective man management must be made compulsory for all pilots and airport authority officers. Holding key positions. Aircraft safety and Human Factors 9 CRM Revisited: (Hebbar 110) C - Communication skills R -Rendezvous of Views E -Ego Shedding W -Willing acceptance of Ideas R -Reading of minds E -Energizing of Resources S -Synergetic Approach O -Ours (Not Mine) outlook U -'U' The Human Factor R -Risk Management C -Challenging an Error E -Education for Safety M -Melding with Environment A -Assessing Hazards N -Never Neglect Latent Danger Strategy A -Adherence to Safety Norms G -Governing Series of Actions Aircraft safety and Human Factors 10 E -Enthusiasm with Restraint M -Man Machine Interaction E -Encouragement of Peer Influence N -No-reprisals Policy T -Thought Provoking Discussions Aircraft safety and Human Factors 11 CONCLUSION To Sum Up Man designed the Machine and started flying them in the Medium unknown to him to accomplish the Mission set by himself. With passage of time, he mastered the art of making the machine and became aware of the medium. In the process, the machine overtook him and the man found himself trying to catch up, with the machine .In the bargain accidents/incidents started occurring due to the limitation of the human brain. All human error accidents are not the fault of the aircrew or ground crew alone. Sometimes external circumstances such as poorly designed cockpit, ambiguous regulations, communication, briefing etc. are the cause. Knowing why a crew made an error is helpful in designing preventive measures and formulating specialized training. But lessons learnt on the cause of human error are seldom implemented leaving the flank wide open for recurrence of similar accidents. Understanding the cause and implementing preventive measures will go a long way in avoiding human errors accidents and thereby strengthing the Man in the Man, Machine, Medium and Mission quartet. Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives. Aircraft safety and Human Factors 12 Reference Frank H. Hawkins & Harry W.Human Factors in Flight. Ashgate Publishing; 2nd edition. January 1993. Graeber Curt. Human Factors. Boeing.com Retrieved November 21, 2006, from http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_08/human_textonly.html Hebbar RM.Men Behind The Machine. Aviation Journal. Careers Publishing House. Delhi.2004.25-130 Human Factors and Aviation Safety. . Retrieved November 21, 2006, from http://www.wcupa.edu/_ACADEMICS/sch_cas.psy/Career_Paths/Aviation/subfield2.htm Wikipedia .Air Safety. Retrieved November 21, 2006, from http://www.answers.com/topic/air-safety Read More