Introduction to Human Factors in Aviation

Human Factors is the study of how people interact with their work environment, equipment, procedures, and other people, with the goal of improving safety, efficiency, and human performance in aviation. It examines human capabilities and limitations—such as physical, psychological, physiological, and organizational factors—that can influence how well a person performs a task.

What is Human Factor?

Studying Human Factors is important in aviation because it helps improve safety, efficiency, and human performance by understanding how people interact with equipment, procedures, the environment, and other people. Since humans are involved in almost every aviation activity and are naturally prone to making mistakes, Human Factors aims to identify the causes of errors and reduce their occurrence through better system design, training, communication, teamwork, and working conditions. It recognizes that accidents are rarely caused by a single individual's mistake but often result from a combination of human, technical, environmental, and organizational factors. By applying Human Factors principles, aviation organizations can minimize risks, prevent accidents and incidents, enhance decision-making, improve operational effectiveness, and promote the well-being of aviation personnel.

Why Human Factor is important in Aviation?

Clinical Psychology

It includes the study and application of psychology for understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development.

Clinical Psychology

It focuses on the mental well-being of the individual.

Experimental Psychology

It includes the study of a variety of basic behavioral processes, often in a laboratory environment.

Experimental psychology

Concerned with testing theories of human thoughts, feelings, actions, and beyond – any aspects of being human that involve the mind.

Anthropometry

It is the study of the dimensions and abilities of the human body.

Anthropometrics Science

The comparative study of the measurements and capabilities of the human body.

Safety Engineering

It is a discipline concerned with the design of tools, machines, and systems that take into account human capabilities, limitations, and characteristics

Cognitive science

It is is the interdisciplinary scientific study of minds as information processors

Computer Science

It is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems.

Cognitive science

The study of how the mind works, functions, and behaves.

Medicine

It is the science and art of healing.

Medical Science

It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.

Organizational psychologists/psychology

Are concerned with relations between people and work.

Educational Psychology

It is a study of how people learn and design the methods and materials used to educate people of all ages.

Industrial engineering

It is is the organized approach to the study of work.

Industrial engineering

It is important for supervisors to set reasonable work standards that can be met and exceeded. It is also beneficial to have an efficient facility layout so that there is room to work. Another aspect is the statistical analysis of work performance.

SHEL(L) Model

It is useful to illustrate the impact and interaction of the different system components on the human, and emphasizes the need to consider human factors as an integrated part of safety risk management.

• Liveware-Software (L-S).

• Liveware-Hardware (L-H).

• Liveware-Environment (L-E).

• Liveware-Liveware (L-L).

SHEL(L) Model Interfaces:

According to the SHEL(L) Model, a mismatch between the liveware other four components and the can contribute to human error

According to the SHEL(L) Model, a mismatch between the liveware other four components and the can contribute to __________.

PEAR

It is a human factors model that helps airline safety managers understand human factors associated with human errors in aviation maintenance

• People who do the job.

• Environment in which they work.

• Actions they perform.

• Resources necessary to complete the job.

PEAR four considerations for assessing and mitigating human factors in aviation maintenance:

• Lack of Communication

• Complacency

• Lack of Knowledge

• Distraction

• Lack of Teamwork

• Fatigue

• Lack of Resources

• Pressure

• Lack of Assertiveness

• Stress

• Lack of Awareness

• Norms

Human Factors “Dirty Dozen”

Lack of Resources

There were staff shortages

Pressure

Time pressures existed during maintenance

Fatigue

Errors occurred at night

Lack of Communication

Shift or task handovers were involved

Complacency

There was an element of a "can-do" attitude

Distraction

Interruptions occurred

Norms

There was some failure to use approved data or company procedures

Lack of Knowledge

Poorly written or confusing manuals

Lack of Resources

There was inadequate pre-planning, equipment, or spares