Aeronautical Decision-Making

have been documented as a primary contributor to more than both its knowledge base and scope. Human factors involves 70 percent of aircraft accidents. gathering research specific to certain situations (i.e., flight, maintenance, stress levels, knowledge) about human abilities, Typically, human factor incidents/accidents are associated limitations, and other characteristics and applying it to tool with flight operations but recently have also become a major design, machines, systems, tasks, jobs, and environments concern in aviation maintenance and air traffic management to produce safe, comfortable, and effective human use. The as well. [Figure 2-8] Over the past several years, the FAA has entire aviation community benefits greatly from human made the study and research of human factors a top priority factors research and development as it helps better understand by working closely with engineers, pilots, mechanics, and how humans can most safely and efficiently perform their ATC to apply the latest knowledge about human factors in jobs and improve the tools and systems in which they interact. an effort to help operators and maintainers improve safety and efficiency in their daily operations. Human Behavior Studies of human behavior have tried to determine an Human factors science, or human factors technologies, individual’s predisposition to taking risks and the level of is a multidisciplinary field incorporating contributions an individual’s involvement in accidents. In 1951, a study from psychology, engineering, industrial design, statistics, regarding injury-prone children was published by Elizabeth operations research, and anthropometry. It is a term that Mechem Fuller and Helen B. Baune, of the University of covers the science of understanding the properties of Minnesota. The study was comprised of two separate groups human capability, the application of this understanding to of second grade students. Fifty-five students were considered the design, development and deployment of systems and accident repeaters and 48 students had no accidents. Both services, and the art of ensuring successful application of groups were from the same school of 600 and their family human factor principles into all aspects of aviation to include demographics were similar. pilots, ATC, and aviation maintenance. Human factors is often considered synonymous with CRM or maintenance The accident-free group showed a superior knowledge resource management (MRM) but is really much broader in of safety, was considered industrious and cooperative Figure 2-8. Human factors effects pilots, aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) and air traffic control (ATC). 2-11