HUMAN FACTOR IN AVIATION

Human Factor In Aviation



Human Factor In Aviation

Introduction

This proposed study highlights many issues in relation to human factors in aviation.

If we assume that the number of accidents is proportional to the number of flights? we could expect an increase in the number of accidents. Following two major US airline crashes (ValuJet 5/96; TWA 7/96)? Clinton formed the White House Commission on previous term Aviation next term Safety and Security to focus on previous term aviation next term safety concerns. (McFadden 2008b: 1035-1037)

US President Clinton has stated that previous term aviation next term safety is his top transportation priority. This is mainly due to the reason that airline travel in the United States is slowly growing. If current trends continue? by 2010 the annual number of airline passengers could reach 1 billion (FAA? 1999). Although maintenance? manufacturing design flaws? and operational deficiencies other than those of the pilot are typically cited as cause previous term factors? next term the major cause of all previous term aviation next term accidents is pilot-error. Some studies suggest that approximately 70% of previous term aviation next term accidents are classified as pilot-error? while others indicate that all accidents have some form of previous term human next term error attached to their cause. This may be unfair to pilots because accidents are often a result of a chain of events in which the pilot is the last link in the chain. But? often the pilot's judgement in handing emergency situations is the final deciding previous term factor next term as to whether the event will result in an accident. (McFadden 2008:28-32)

Purpose of the Study

The focus of this paper would be to examine how past researchers have analyzed pilot-error and develop a conceptual framework for designing future safety studies. Our new approach? that takes into account the more complex relationships among relevant previous term factors? next term can be extended to other industries where public safety is a primary concern.

Literature Review

In the twentieth century? knowledge acquired through accident investigations paved the way for improvements in air travel. Traditionally? research has focused on finding factors that link to pilot-error accidents through systematic accident investigations. While appreciating the value of accident investigations in identifying cause and initiating corrective action to prevent future errors? a fundamental shift in emphasis to “proactive safety” is needed as we approach the 21st century. (McFadden 2008:28-32)

Our model of the traditional approach of studying pilot-error is depicted in Fig. 1. Environmental factors? aircraft factors? airline-specific factors? and pilot-specific factors are the four major classifications of factors that have traditionally associated with pilot-error.

Figure. 1. Traditional approach for the studying pilot-error.

Some factors next term specific to the pilot such as age? experience? gender? personality traits and alcohol misuse have been linked to pilot-error accidents. Before the research on the impact of age has shown that accident rates reduces with age and eventually level off for older pilots. Studies shown on the relationship among experience (total flying hours) and the pilot-error accident rates ...