Human Factors and Aviation Safety

Human factors 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. Organizations that research human errors in aviation include the Center for Applied Human Factors in Aviation (CAHFA) and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Flight Deck Management reports:
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 crew are also human.

Because many accidents when flying an aircraft are due to human error, cockpit/crew resource management was developed to addresses the interactions of aviation team members and how those interactions affect the safety and effectiveness of the aircrew's mission. Specifically, the goal is to develop effective interpersonal communication, stress management, and task allocation skills so that decision making during abnormal or emergency situation is optimized.

Aviation psychologists can draw inferences about the psychological processes of pilots and controllers by analyzing the errors that they have made. The aviation psychologist will look at incidents and accidents. Incidence refers to the mistakes that did not result in an accidents. An accident can be attributable to pilot or air traffic controller error. The Aviation Safety Reporting System is a large database of incidents. The National Transportation Safety Board provides detailed reports of accidents. Other safety information can be found in the Flight Safety Foundation or the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation.