Professionalism of Aviation in Human Factor - Essay Example

Professionalism of Aviation in Human Factor Introduction Aviation industry is one of the most important industries of transport in the world. For that reason, professionalism is not just a collective initiative, but also an individual initiative aimed at ensuring safety in the airline industry. According to Salas and Maurino 98, professionalism is a fundamental feature in promoting the success of the aviation industry. The authors also believe that it is not about the paycheck presented to the pilots, but also the need to be professional. The same authors define professionalism as an organized product of the pilots dedication to being obedient, knowledgeable, courageous, and enthusiastic as well as having good judgment expertise. The authors also believe that knowledge in the aviation industry is accumulated through several years of experience, training, and exposure to the real world. A lot of accidents have been reported, and 75% of them have been due to unprofessionalism from the pilots and crew members (Kinnaird). The paper looks at an insight of several accidents that have been reported to have been caused by unprofessionalism of the crew members. However, judgment is considered as one of the fundamental aspects in maintaining professionalism in the aviation industry. Judgment acts as a basis of safety according to the authors. The authors argue that it is also through training and discipline that professionalism is developed. As a pilot, courage is necessary while making decisions and accepting the responsibility of the actions an individual takes as a pilot. That is because pilots carry lots of human lives that must be protected. Research indicates that a lot of errors that occur in the aviation industry are usually caused by pilot error. The researchers argue that their findings put pilot errors at 75% of all the mishaps that occur in the aviation industry by the year 2000 (Thompson). It has also been found that personal problems such as medical conditions, stress and family instability also contribute to pilot errors. Alcoholism has also been pointed out by many researchers as a cause for unprofessionalism. Lack of adequate training and newly acquired rules in the aviation industry has also been cited (Rizzo). It must be noted that the current world is quickly changing in terms of science and technology something that has also been rampant in the aviation industry. For this reason, the National Transportation Safety Board insists in atomization in order to enhance professionalism and safety in the industry. Social problems like welcoming a new born in the family, sexual harassment, lack of adequate rest and sleep have an effect on human judgment especially while piloting. Pilots also undergo a lot of traumas especially with memories of friends who have died in accidents. Such cases lead to anxiety in and also contribute to pilot errors. Research also indicates that pilots have been avoiding psychiatrist for regular counseling because it may lead to permanent something that might lead to loss of flying certificates (Mortimer). Moreover, most pilots have been found to be in denial and have consequently skipped medical checkups something that is necessary before showing up for a flight. Salas and Maurino also classify potentially dangerous pilots in three classes. According to the authors, an overstressed pilot is a very dangerous pilot that may contribute to unprofessionalism. Such pilots usually exhibit an element of mood swings, anger and outburst with fellow workers and also depression. Such pilots hence need temporary grounding or referral to a mental facility after flight surgeon has given a report about the aviator. An aviator that is below the required standards is also considered a potentially dangerous pilot. Such pilots show poor judgment if key aviation procedures. Furthermore, such pilots lack confidence and adequate skills. Interventions necessary for such pilots include counteractive training for the aviator and minimization of collateral duties. The researchers also capture the concept of overconfident pilots and argue that such aviators also contribute to significant rates of pilot errors (Coles). Overconfident aviators shows an attitude of having been in the industry for a long time hence have a lot of experiences. Moreover, they intimidate their juniors and show disrespect something that is unethical and unprofessional. Interventions necessary for such pilots include increasing confrontation and counseling as well as aligning them with other senior aviators. Research also indicates that there is a significant correlation between professionalism and aviation accidents (Daley). Professionalism has been found to reduce the number of accidents as well as building the brand name of specific airline company something that enhances global competition and advantage. Companies that constantly engage in accidents suffer huge losses considering that acquiring a plane requires large investments. However, it has been noted that mental fitness for duty has been a challenge to diagnose. That is because it is not necessarily easy to determine how many hours of sleep an aviator takes in a day. The other challenge is a different time zone that the aviator operates on. While traveling to the West most aviators gain some hours something that they can use as an advantage to add onto their rest hours. However, as they travel to the East they tend to lose some hours or even days something that affects their mental fitness for duty. Besides that, the management also plays a vital role in ensuring professionalism. That is through their schedules. For example, it is not easy for an aviator to withstand repeated 12-hour flight shifts. That will contribute to stress. Retired professional such as commander and Captain Gene Cernan of USN argues that professionalism is a mindset, a state of mind, and commitment to be the best. The captain further argues that anything less would be unacceptable (Ergas). Internal motivation and self-satisfaction also contribute to professionalism according to Chairman of National Transport and Safety Board chairman Rosenker. Cernam, apparently the last man to walk in the moon also reiterates that professionalism is a personal trait that stems from a culture of excellence and determination and therefore is an absolute necessity that is important for the risky aviation business. Chairman Rosenker analyzes some of the accidents that resulted from unprofessionalism on the pilots part. For example, the chairman sites that in 2004 Pinnacle Airlines suffered a huge loss of a Bombardier CL600 crashed on part 91 repositioning flight. Investigations and recommendations reports showed that the pilot was the probable cause of the accident due to unprofessionalism. The report further indicated that the pilot deviated from the standard operation procedures something that resulted to an inflight emergency procedure that went unsuccessful. The following week, an accident was also reported due to poor airmanship by the pilot that claimed 13 lives. The Jetstream turbo prop experienced an error from part 121 of the flight that saw the plane fail to land properly upon reaching Kirksville Missouri. Similarly in 2006, 49 lives were lost when Comair jet crashed after taking off from the wrong runway. The National Transport and Safety Board concluded that pilot error was the cause of the accident after failing to adhere to company procedures, checklist discipline and FAR rules and regulations. That is just few examples, but it must be noted that many aviators cause accidents all over the world due to negligence and lack of professionalism. Professionalism is guided by the following factors according to Cernan. They include commitment, discipline, courage, passion, judgment, and skill. On the contrary in 2010 acting chairman of NTSB Christopher Hart noted that a recent advance in technology that has led to automation of aircrafts has resulted to unprofessionalism. Hart gave an example of the 2013 July accident f Asiana Airline flight 214 that crashed on landing. Investigations revealed that the pilot was so experienced having done over 10,000 hours of flight. It was also discovered that the pilot was landing on a sunny beautiful day with minimal wind disturbance only to crash the plane because the glide slope of the aircraft were out of service and the pilot was forced to turn to manual operation procedures (Alton K. Marsh). The report also indicated that the pilot showed anxiety and incidences of nervousness something that led to the accident. For this reason, Hart argues that with 11,000 foot run way available together with the experience and the skills the pilot acquired it was unprofessional to crash the plane and lost innocent lives. That is the reason Hard believes that the automation has led to unprofessionalism. In another example, Hart also cites the crash of flight 447 regarding the Air France that crashed in Rio de Janeiro. According to NTSB report, the pilots were flying near thunderstorms. Due to lots of cold, the pilot tubes froze and that led to los of airspeed information. Loss of airspeed information led to the loss of the autopilot as well as auto-throttle and consequently alpha direction. Hart argues that such a simple error led to the loss of lives. Reports also indicated that the pilots had no experience of manual piloting even though the law is clear about auto piloting above 29,000 feet. Hart argued that the loss of speed information is a basic skill that all pilots experience while undergoing training, and such simple errors should not result to losses. For that reason, Hart still reiterated that atomization of aircrafts has made aviators lazy hence leading to unprofessionalism. In another incidence, Hart noted unprofessionalism when a Northwest Airlines aircraft went beyond their destination with 150 miles in March 2010 probably due to distractions. Judgment is considered a vital tool that is important in the aviation industry because it is an element of safety. It is argued that many errors occur to planes even before they hit the space, and therefore pre-flight preparations are encouraged. For example, in 200, Challenger CL600 at Teterboro Airport ran off the departure runway while trying to leave the airport at a speed of 110 knots. The two pilots ended up receiving serious injuries while eight passengers received minor injuries. That is an element of judgment that was lacking from the two pilots. The plane hit a building and destroyed property. In most cases, aircrafts will not pick any altitude especially while taking off when there is excess weight. In this case, it was found out that the pilots failed to ensure weight and balance limits before takeoff. In addition, it is important that the center of gravity is well balanced before takeoff. In this incidence, gravity prevented the plane form rotating at a certain angle and speed that was applicable for takeoff. However, many researchers argue that such basic principles have been neglected so much hence leading to unprofessionalism. Part 91K, 121, and 135 are, therefore, emphasized when it comes to ethical considerations and professionalism of an aviator. In another case in 2007 a simple error like forgetting to close the baggage door led to an accident that killed two professional pilots. The error lead to the plane losing latitude and balance and the plane crashed after hitting only 200 feet while taking off. Such incidents show how important the preflight preparation is important. For this reason pre- flight preparation should engage precise callouts, compliance with SOPs and regulations as well as complying with cockpit rules. It must, therefore, be noted that success buildup confidence. Every professional aviator must be able to build up success by becoming professional. The National Transport and Safety Board are mandated by investigating transport accidents and coming up with the probable causes of the accidents and issuing safety recommendations. According to their report in 2013, most of the pilots that engaged in accidents had either prior certificate revocations while most of the time they failed to complies with routine procedures and regulations. Moreover, such pilots also falsified their training records something that affects professionalism and code of ethics of aviators. The board also report that most pilots lack discipline and in depth knowledge of adhering to procedures hence reducing their chances to deal with any anomalies before and during the accident. Their report also states that most of the accidents that were reported during takeoff and landing involved inadequate briefing by the pilot while approaching difficult weather. In addition, the report also challenged the type of language used by many pilots. The researchers found out that some of the pilots failed to communicate in coded language that is understood international hence leading to communication breakdown with the communication tower something that results to accidents. In the same report, pilots that were found to overrun their destinations were found to be engaging in strenuous conversations something that prevents the pilots from proper concentration as well as performing flight related issues. Airspeed selection, cockpit discipline, and crew reaction to stall warning and stall were areas that were found to be mostly affected in many accidents. It is also necessary for pilots operating below 10,000 feet to be in constant communication with flight controllers. However, in many instances it was found that pilots reflected a demeanor in communication as well as cockpit environment hence leading to deviation from the established standards of practice, crew resource management and therefore end up reducing the standards between safeties to lower margins that are not professional. That was cited by an incident in January 19, 2010 in Charlton where flight crew members engaged in unnecessary conversations that led to non-adherence to the required sterile cockpit procedures. That distracted the crew from performing their primary flight related procedures that ked to failing to set correctly and verify the flaps. The plane then hit a building after deviating from the runway. However, Hon John Lauber has warned against laxity in the cockpit even though it is necessary to be always calm at the cockpit. Lauber argues that pilots must be in a position to distinguish between an easy cockpit atmosphere and lax atmosphere that can lead to distractions and errors. Crews that were international found deviating from SOPs procedures and guidelines were found to commit three more times additional errors with consequential results. For this reason, the NTSB encourages professionalism by insisting on a mindset that can ensure precise checklist usage, precise callouts and complying with SOPs and regulations. In order to maintain professionalism, the board also recommends that aviators should stay abreast with the quickly changing technology and therefore acquire current knowledge and modern skills in the field of aviation. The board also recommends and reminds aviators that no one is perfect and the willingness to accept that something is wrong is very important instead of risking lives. For this reason, it is recommended that aviators do the right thing even though no one is watching them since they never know which flight will be used to judge their reputation. Conclusion Professionalism is an ethical consideration that is a must in the aviation industry. The paper concludes that most of the errors and accidents occur due to unprofessionalism of the crew members. Areas emphasized have been on poor communication between flight controllers and the crew members. Failure to respond to SOPs and cockpit environment has also been found to be the most leading factors in many accidents. Automation has also been found to be leading to unprofessionalism since it leads to laziness and laxity. Works Cited Alton K. Marsh. Acting NTSB chief says automation affects professionalism. 21 October 2014. 2014 . Coles, J. Collins Class Sustainment Review. Canberra: Department of Defence, 2011. Daley, Paul. "The fatal journey of Shark 02." The Bulletin (2007): pp. 22–29. Ergas, H. and Thomson, M. "‘More Guns Without Less Butter: Improving Australian Defence Efficiency." Agenda (2011): 18(3). Kinnaird, M. Defence Procurement Review. Canberra: Department of Defence, 2003. Mortimer, D. Going to the Next Level: The Report of the Defence Procurement and Sustainment Review. Canberra: Materiel Organisation, 2008. Rizzo, P. J. 2011. Plan to Reform Support Ship Repair and Management Practices. Canberra: Department of Defence, 2011. Thompson, Geoff. Indonesians honoured for chopper crash rescue. 26 May 2009. 2013 . Read More