Recently, I stumbled upon an article on Human Factors, taken from the AMT handbook (Addendum Human Factors). The term human factors has grown increasingly popular since there is industry consensus that a vast majority of all aviation incidents and accidents is caused by human error.
Although the article particularly describes human conditions in relation to Aviation Maintenance, I conclude that a great number of the human factors as addressed in the text, relate to a cockpit environment as well. Moreover, it is my belief that these elements also apply to Flight Training. Fatigue, complacency and stress for example, in fact all human factors for proficiency (The Dirty Dozen*), are important human conditions that potentially can be triggers for errors, subjective instruction or evaluation, crew frustration due to untransparent training objectives, negative training, demotivation rather than inspiration or the inability to complete the training program.
Human factors is a term that covers the science of understanding the properties of human capability, the application of this understanding to the design, development and deployment of systems and services, and the art of ensuring successful application of human factor principles into any pilot training environment.
In that context, my interest was drawn to the description of “The Pear Model”. Although there are many concepts related to the science and practice of human factors, it helps if we share a unified view of things when considering human factors, also in flight training. For more than a decade, the term “PEAR” has been used as a memory jogger, or mnemonic, to characterize human factors in aviation. PEAR prompts recall of the four important considerations for human factors programs:
• People who do the job.
• Environment in which they work.
• Actions they perform.
• Resources necessary to complete the job.
People
In the context of Simulator Pilot Training, this factor refers to the instructor and the crew members. Thus, it focusses on the individuals, their physical capabilities and the factors that affect them. It should consider their mental state, cognitive capacity, and the conditions that may affect their interaction with others.
Environment
The single most important environment in Pilot Training is the flight simulator. Whereas the flight deck portion of the simulator reflects a specific or generic type of aircraft and as such is a given fact, the instructor station and aft cabin are areas in which human factors should be considered.
Actions
Human factors programs analyze the actions people must perform to complete a job efficiently and safely. Clearly in flight training, the instructor may have access to an array of tools enabling him/her to evaluate crew (inter-)actions. Flight Simulators typically provide a safe, and ideally productive environment for air crews to train, test and check procedures, skills and actions.
Resources
In the broad sense, a resource is anything an instructor or crew member needs to get the job done. In the context of providing productive pilot training, FTDs hold instruments, tools, manuals to facilitate this.
Thus
It may be logical that literature and other publications most often discuss human factors in flight, ATC, aircraft maintenance and ground handling. These arenas are of course the areas “where the action is” and where the impact of human error is critical. To me however, it is evident that human factors in flight training are an important focus area as well. This is where crew behavior is “programmed”; confidence is made or broken; “tricks of the trade” are thought; execution of procedures is evaluated etc. By facilitating a pilot training environment that consciously considers the role of the (human) flight instructor and his/her interaction with the airmen (m/f) in front, I believe that a significant contribution can be made to training quality with positive spin-off to different aspects of aviation safety.
Training Device Manufacturers (TDMs) have the great responsibility in the total chain of industry safety to provide a realistic cockpit environment and as per aircraft” simulator behavior. But considering the above, we have to go one step further: providers of Pilot Training Devices should pay much attention to the total configuration of the FTD including the work and workflow of the flight instructor. TDMs should facilitate a pleasant, ergonomic, comfortable, and productive working environment. By considering human factors throughout the training cycle and in every component of the Training Device, the flight instructor’s “workshop” will greatly improve and thus the quality and efficiency of training curricula.
Aviatify as manufacturer of Fixed Base Flight Simulators is a strong believer of the above considerations. Our products are designed to improve productivity in pilot training by specifically paying attention to human factors where possible. We invite you to check us out and contact us to let us prove that to you.
* The Dirty Dozen refer to the twelve human factors for proficiency: Lack of Communication; Complacency; Lack of Knowledge; Distraction; Lack of Teamwork; Fatigue; Lack of Resources; Pressure; Lack of Assertiveness; Stress; Lack of Awareness; Norms.
Source: AMT Handbook Addendum Human Factors
