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Human Factors and Performance in Aviation

Unit code: HES2910A

Credit points12.5 Credit Points
Duration

One Semester
Contact hours48 hours (4 hours per week)
CampusHawthorn
Prerequisites

HES1910 or HES1903

CorequisitesNil

Related course(s)

A unit of study in the;
 

Aims and objectives

The aim of this unit is to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamental and important concepts in human factors as they relate to safe operation of aircraft.

After successfully completing this unit students should be able to;

1. Identify essential psychological concepts such as personality, inter-personal communication, attention and vigilance
2. Explain and discuss how humans interact with automation on the flightdeck.
3. Recognise and discuss important models of human behaviour in relation to errors.
4. Identify the fundamental principles of crew resource management,
5. Explain and discuss how the techniques of CRM can be used to improve and enhance human performance on the flightdeck,
6. Define and discuss the concept of threat and error management. Identify essential psychological concepts such as personality, inter-personal communication, attention and vigilance.

Teaching methods

Classroom lectures

Assessment

Assignments (worth 40%)
Examination (worth 60%)

Generic skills outcomes

  • analysis skills,
  • problem solving skills,
  • communications skills,
  • ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and
  • ability to work independently.

Content

Aviation Human Factors:

  • Personality
  • Effective teamwork and leadership
  • Communication and assertiveness
  • The Reason model
  • Decision making and pilot judgement
  • Attention, monitoring, vigilance and situational awareneness
  • Ergonomics and human-machine interface
  • Management of aircraft automation
  • Flight simulation
Crew Resource Management:
  • History of CRM training
  • Elements of CRM training and their evolution
  • Line-oriented flight training and line-oriented safety audits
  • Cross cultural perspectives in CRM

Threat and Error Management:

  • Basic Threat and Error Management Principles
  • An in depth case study of a General Aviation accident

Text books

Hawkins, F.H. (1993). Human Factors in Flight, 2nd edn., Ashgate, Aldershot

References

Goeters, K-M. (Ed.) (1998). Aviation Psychology: A Science and a Profession. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Goeters, K-M. (2002). Evaluation of the effects of CRM training by the assessment of non-technical skills under LOFT. Human Factors and Aerospace Safety, 2(1). 71-86.
Hayward, B.J. (1997). Culture, CRM and aviation safety. Invited paper presented at the ASASI Asia Pacific Regional Air Safety Seminar, Brisbane, May 1997. See: http://www.asasi.org/papers/hayward.pdf
Hayward, B.J., & Lowe, A.R. (Eds.). (2000). Aviation resource management, Volume One. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Hayward, B.J., & Lowe, A.R. (Eds). (1996). Applied Aviation Psychology: Achievement, Change and Challenge, Avebury Aviation, Aldershot.
Helmreich, R.L., Klinect, J.R., & Wilhelm, J.A. (2003). Managing threat and error: Data from line operations. In G. Edkins & P. Pfister (Eds.), Innovation and consolidation in aviation. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Helmreich, R.L., & Merritt, A.C. (1998). Culture at work in aviation and medicine: National, organisational and professional influences. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Helmreich, R.L., Merritt, A.C. & Wilhelm, J.A. (1999) The evolution of Crew Resource Management training in commercial aviation. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 19-32.
Helmreich, R.L., & Merritt, A.C. (2000). Safety and error management: The role of crew resource management. In B.J. Hayward & A.R. Lowe, (Eds.), Aviation resource management, Vol 1. Ashgate, Aldershot.
Helmreich, R.L., & Merritt, A. (1998). Culture at Work in Aviation and Medicine: National, Organisational and Professional Influences, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Human Factors Digest No. 1, Fundamental Human Factors Concepts, ICAO Circular 216 AN 131.
Johnston, N., McDonald, N., Fuller, R.(Eds.) (1994). Aviation Psychology in Practice, Avebury, Aldershot.
Maurino, D.E., Reason, J., Johnston, N., & Lee, R.B. (1995). Beyond Aviation Human Factors, Avebury Aviation, Aldershot.
Orlady, H.W. & Orlady, L.M. (1999). Human Factors in Multicrew Operations, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Reason, J. (1997). Managing the Risks of Organisational Accidents, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Salas, E., Fowlkes, J.E., Stout, R.J., Milanovich, D.M., & Prince, C. (1999). Does CRM improve teamwork skills in the cockpit? Two evaluation studies. Human Factors, 41(2), 326-343.
Salas, E., Burke, C.S., Bowers, C.A., & Wilson, K.A. (2001). Team training in the skies: Does Crew Resource Management (CRM) training work? Human Factors, 43(4), 641-674.
Trollip, S.R., Jensen, R.S. (1991). Human Factors for General Aviation, Jeppesen Sanderson.
Wiener, E.L., Kanki, B.G., & Helmreich, R.L. (Eds.). (1993). Cockpit resource management. San Diego: Academic Press.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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