Human Factors in Aviation Safety

Human Factors in Aviation Safety

The human beings with their immense capabilities, imagination, creativity, and cleverness have transformed the world into an industrial world that is surrounded by numerous inventions, innovations, and advancements in various facets of life. Aviation industry is also one of the developments of the human beings, which was imagined as an attempt to emulate bird flight. Human beings were engaged in this phenomenon for centuries prior to the emergence of the first flight, which resulted in outstanding civil transport in the form of spaceflight (Campbell & Bagshaw, 2008). However, it is wise to note that the human life is one integral aspect that should not be ignored when any mode of transportation is concerned. To have a safe journey during flights it is demonstrated that aviation safety is essential. Aviation safety principally signifies that prevention techniques in the form of regulation, education, and training should be applied in order to avoid aircraft failures. Aviation safety also refers to the process where flight failures are categorized so that it could be prevented in the future. This also brings the fact into the light that human factor is the core aspect involved and engaged in the aviation industry (Campbell & Bagshaw, 2008).

Even though the aircrafts are typically controlled by the people in the air, yet they need constant support from the ground. This is important because they can carry out safe and effective operations during the flights. This deep and comprehensive involvement of people all over the aviation transport has emerged the need to understand the human role (or human factor) in aircraft operations. This also signifies the fact that flight crews and other operational personnel are required to have necessary trainings and skills so that they can carry out the functions in aerospace in an effective and safe manner. This is in accordance with the defined criteria (Campbell & Bagshaw, 2008).

Even though human factor is considered with a narrow scope, yet it is vital to highlight that it has a much broader context in terms of its knowledge base and scope. Considering the human factor, the overall behavior and action that can probably affect the human performance with the aviation system. In simpler terms, it is the scientific knowledge that facilitates in the understanding of human capacities and their weaknesses in systems that are being operated. This means that the human factor is the amalgamation of an individual's social, personal skills (such as communication skills and decision-making ability), and technical skills that facilitate a person to respond in a safe and efficient manner during flight (Campbell & Bagshaw, 2008). Unfortunately, it has been observed that human error is the typical term that is associated to the human factor. Due to this, it is considered as negative, yet it is imperative to note that human factor is not confined to the negative aspect as positive factors of the human behaviors and actions (which usually refer to the unique things performed by the humans) are equally associated to the term human factor. In other words, human factors refer to the actions or behaviors of the people in physical working environments along with their associations with the equipments. It is also influenced by how they tend to maintain relationships with their peers (Salas, Jentsch & Maurino, 2010).

Considering the human factor in aeronautics industry, it is the extent to which the humans (pilots and crew members) can integrate them with the technology in the most safe and efficient way. Based on this ability of humans, the policies, training schedules, designs, and procedures have to be incorporated. This is done so that it can aid the humans to improve their performances (Salas, Jentsch & Maurino, 2010).

Human performance is potentially affected by diversity of factors. Due to this diversity, human errors are likely to happen which has been recognized as the major factor for all aviation accidents. In this regard, extensive studies and investigations conducted by the medicine community of the aviation have brought the fact into the light that since the beginning of the aviation industry, human factor is considered the widespread danger. This danger is closely connected with aviation mishaps (Salas, Jentsch & Maurino, 2010).

Furthermore, from the studies, it has also come to notice that a significant percentage of airplane mishaps have been attributed to human error. This has resulted in portrayal or documentation of this aspect as primary reason for aircraft collisions. Indeed, the framework of human errors has continued to be one of the biggest challenges of the aeronautics industry. As the aviation, industry has realized that human factors have contributed to most of the aviation accidents and incidents, rather than mechanical failure. The human factor has increasingly become more popular and widespread within the industry (Salas, Jentsch & Maurino, 2010).

In fact human factors especially the pilot error is the primary contributing factor that leads to aircraft crashes. Improper communication between the key personnel involved in flights is another significant aspect that causes collision of the aircraft. At times, it has also been observed that pilots are not able to monitor flight instructions in a proper manner, which also becomes the reason for air crashes. Moreover, blunders at take-off and landing also lead to catastrophic consequences of air crash (Ebermann & Scheiderer, 2012).

The human errors are also observed at times when the crewmembers or pilots have performed an action in a wrong manner, or they have taken actions on the things that need no activities. This is also possible if they have not performed the actions when they were necessary to perform a task. These are few of the common errors that are likely to happen during the flights because the crew members or pilots are stressed out or have become fatigued. These aspects clearly indicate the fact that the physical and mental states of the crew members are most important in aviation system and at flights. In other words, the health of the crew members play a critical role in the decision making process during the flights (Ebermann & Scheiderer, 2012).

The human error is not confined in the air, but errors are likely to happen at the ground as well. This elucidates the fact that pilots are not the only personnel that lead to dramatic air crashes, but other crewmembers or personnel can also cause such disasters. For instance, if the design of the cargo door is not properly prepared, it can also become the reason of an accident. In addition, if the repair of previously damaged equipment is not done in a proper manner, it increases the probability of the air crash through the destruction of systems that are involved in flight controls (Ebermann & Scheiderer, 2012).

These are some of the prime contributing factors of air crashes that have turned the human factor into potential danger when aviation safety is concerned. Nevertheless, the human factor can maintain air safety if the flight crew has the capability to maintain situational awareness, which is considered to be one of the critical human factors. Unfortunately, from the studies, it has been observed that awareness of human factors, which plays a critical role in the accident rates, is perhaps to a very lower extent amongst the general pilots when compared to other sector of aviation industry. This eventually leads to the fact that the development of the understanding between the human factors and accident rates is essential in order to have aviation safety (Stolzer, Halford & Goglia, 2010).

Considering the severe consequences of the major accidents in the aviation history, much of the attention has been made to improve the human factors in aviation safety since few decades. However, it is also vital to note the fact that from the historic times, the aviation industry has attempted to make progress in safety of aircraft by implementing various strategies like pilot's checklist, crew resource management, and so on, yet, this arena needs some major changes so that more safety and security can be provided to the millions of people using this mode of transportation (Wise, Hopkin & Garland, 2011).

The historical perspective of human factors in the aviation industry reveals the piece of information that the concept of human factor within the industry has been initiated over sixty years, but, until the recent times, this discipline has not transpired, and hence is considered as a new concept. The development of the aeronautics industry has been immensely motivated from the Second World War; however, this also made the human factor more apparent than before. Numerous sources of information also highlighted the fact that the relationship between humans and the aircraft system was conceptualized by the aviation psychologists in the latter years of the twentieth century, when the human factor become more obvious (Wise, Hopkin & Garland, 2011).

Indeed, the researches have also drawn the attention to the fact that with the advancements and innovations in the aviation industry over the course of period, the human errors have caused many accidents and collisions in the aviation. This aspect has emphasized the information that advancements in mechanical elements have caused more human ignorance, due to which increased incidents were likely to happen. Therefore, human factors demanded more scrutiny within the aviation industry so that safe environment can be the outcome (Wise, Hopkin & Garland, 2011).

Moreover, the conceptualization of the relationship between humans and the aircraft system created the awareness that aircraft is not an effort of one man; rather, an entire team is required to manage and control the system. This aspect indeed made the concerned people realize the significance of human factor training and crew resource management. Over the course of time, the importance of human factor has not only emerged as a disciplined one, but has also been considered an integral part to the safety of aviation (Wise, Hopkin & Garland, 2011).

Wide-ranging studies have brought the fact to the surface that with the advancements in the technological world, designing of human airplane interfaces as well as procedures for flight crews and maintenance technicians have become a fundamental theme of focus. This is particularly caught the attention because improving human performances have become the core principles of the industry so that the accident rates can be reduced to a great extent. In this regard, many of the general aircrafts make human performance assessments all the way through the journey so that they can have improved comfort, usability, and reliability (Abu-Taieh, El-Sheikh & Jafari, 2012).

Resources have also elucidated that human factors specialists also actively engage themselves in the evaluation of operational safety and developing methods so that they are able to identify and manage the human error in a better and enhanced manner. In order to achieve this goal, the specialists are in close contact with the engineers, safety experts, training pilots, mechanics, as well as cabin crews so that they can integrate the human factors with the design in the most appropriate fashion (Harris & Muir, 2005).

As it has been apparently explicated that human error has become the most challenging aspect of the aeronautics industry, therefore, it is essential to understand the reasons why humans are likely to make errors. This understanding would help the expertise in developing better strategies for future reference that can prevent such errors, and more control by the humans can be achieved so that safer environment is developed.

Since it has been stated earlier in the dissertation that the overall physical and mental health condition of the pilots and crew members are vital in the aviation and flights; therefore, it is essential to stay healthy and fit. Exercise is one of the key solutions to maintain a healthy physical condition in order to maintain safety in aviation. Moreover, it has been observed that fatigue that can be created due to poor sleep at night or being awake for long hours is one significant component that begets to poor health condition and lack of concentration. Therefore, as a solution, the crew members need to have proper concentration level so that they can focus on their tasks during flights and take actions accordingly (Abeyratne, 2012).

Regardless of the fact that the world is experiencing rapid advancements in the technological field, the human capability and skills help them in ensuring safe and successful airplane operations. However, they can best accomplish their goals and objectives of being successful in the aviation industry by continuing to enhance their knowledge and expertise over the operations and equipment, be flexible and dedicated to all the tasks they perform while at the same time having a good judgment in decision making (Abeyratne, 2012).

At the same time, the industry also needs to continue their focus of making huge investments that can be utilized on the equipment, systems, and for the training of the pilots and the crew members. These three aspects are the most crucial to consider because of the rapid evolution of the technology at a constant pace, which does not take the aspect into account that how the humans will interact to it (Harris & Muir, 2005).

Therefore, only the experience of the humans and their intuitions to take immediate decisions is not enough when human performance is related in this technological era, especially in the aviation industry. This signifies the reality that scientific foundation has become essential when the evaluation of human performance is concerned especially in certain areas like design, training, and procedures (Harris & Muir, 2005).

The fact cannot be ignored that the human factor in aviation system is one of the most worthwhile, flexible, versatile, and adaptable element, perhaps, this at the same time is also the most susceptible component that is easily persuaded and can lead to adverse impacts on its performance during the flights. However, over time, significant improvements have been achieved by the human factor to the safety performances in the recent times, yet, the more challenging task is not only to maintain this improvement on a constant basis but also take the improvements to the level where zero harm culture can be embedded (Goglia, 2012).

With respect to the sustainability of the improved performance, it is proposed that the aircrafts should develop firm strategies that can provide significant value to the business processes. These strategies need to be implemented on constant basis (as a part of the business strategy) so that the safety management systems can provide valuable results to the aviation. This is because the safety behavior and the strategies related to it would only lead to increased productivity (Ben-Daya, 2009).

If the aircrafts develop a perception of having complete elimination of human errors, probably, they are leading towards an unrealistic goal, because, 100% elimination of human errors is not practical and very few chances of human error are always present since they are dealing and interacting with innovative technological equipment. Therefore, aviation should focus on developing goals and vision that are realistic and achievable which should relate to minimizing the causes and consequences of human errors in airplane and their performances can be maximized so that the safety can be achieved in overall aviation system (Ben-Daya, 2009).