An Analysis of Preventative Crew Resource Management of Human Error in an Aircraft
An Analysis of Preventative Crew Resource Management of Human Error in an Aircraft
Crew Resource Management (CRM) is “… the proper response to threats to safety and the proper management of crew error,” (Kanki 61). Human error is the cause of over half of all airplane crashes and is completely preventable (Kebabiian 2). Human error, also known as human factors, is any mistake that can be made that is a natural result of being humans (Human Error 1). The application of Crew Resource Management in a flight setting can help reduce human error in an aircraft.
The occurrence of human error can come from a variety of pilots’ actions and outside influences. Pilots are required to work long hours and be away from home for extended periods. If a pilot is flying an aircraft halfway into a twelve hour flight, he is not afforded the opportunity to land and take a quick nap at the nearest airport. This would delay the flight and irritate the passengers. If the pilot is in his own plane, he may not be able to delay the trip with a short stop to rest. However, landing at a commercial airport may take additional time as it has commercial airline flights coming in and out constantly with arrivals and departures. According to Salazar, “…if that person is involved in safety-related activities such as operating a motor vehicle, piloting an aircraft, performing surgery, or running a nuclear reactor, the consequences of fatigue can be disastrous.” Fatigue is a major contributor to human error (1). For example, blurred vision caused by sleepiness can cause numbers to blur and sounds to blend together. Fatigue, however, is not the only source of human error; there are many factors and conditions that lead to human error.
Over confidence in one’s self can cause negligence and complacency on the aviator’s part. When someone is over confident, he may tend to feel as though he does not need to use a checklist. This is due to the fact that he may have performed the checklist items so many
Crew Resource Management (CRM) is “… the proper response to threats to safety and the proper management of crew error,” (Kanki 61). Human error is the cause of over half of all airplane crashes and is completely preventable (Kebabiian 2). Human error, also known as human factors, is any mistake that can be made that is a natural result of being humans (Human Error 1). The application of Crew Resource Management in a flight setting can help reduce human error in an aircraft.
The occurrence of human error can come from a variety of pilots’ actions and outside influences. Pilots are required to work long hours and be away from home for extended periods. If a pilot is flying an aircraft halfway into a twelve hour flight, he is not afforded the opportunity to land and take a quick nap at the nearest airport. This would delay the flight and irritate the passengers. If the pilot is in his own plane, he may not be able to delay the trip with a short stop to rest. However, landing at a commercial airport may take additional time as it has commercial airline flights coming in and out constantly with arrivals and departures. According to Salazar, “…if that person is involved in safety-related activities such as operating a motor vehicle, piloting an aircraft, performing surgery, or running a nuclear reactor, the consequences of fatigue can be disastrous.” Fatigue is a major contributor to human error (1). For example, blurred vision caused by sleepiness can cause numbers to blur and sounds to blend together. Fatigue, however, is not the only source of human error; there are many factors and conditions that lead to human error.
Over confidence in one’s self can cause negligence and complacency on the aviator’s part. When someone is over confident, he may tend to feel as though he does not need to use a checklist. This is due to the fact that he may have performed the checklist items so many
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