Team-Based Human Factors Challenges

In aviation, human factors can be defined as the study of influence behavior at work that could affect the health and safety of an individual, other personnel close by, the equipment being used, the components being worked on or the overall integrity of the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, describes human factors as a multidisciplinary effort to generate and compile information about human capabilities and limitations and apply that information to equipment, systems, facilities, procedures, jobs, environments, training, staffing, and personnel management for safe, comfortable, and effective human performance (FAA).

The FAA also states it is estimated that approximately 80 percent of all aviation accidents are related to human factors (PHAK, 2020). There are different systematic approaches in the aviation sector that advocates pilots, technicians and air traffic controllers to have a safe decision-making outlook and awareness when operating in the workforce.

This includes:

  • Aeronautical Decision-Making (ADM)
  • Operational Risk Management (ORM)
  • Crew Resource Management (CRM)

These systematic approaches all relate to one and the other by focusing on making better decisions within an operational environment and utilizing the available resources to prevent human factors. Being in the military, I am familiar with both ORM and CRM since I was aircrew and have worked in maintenance.  

Performing an engine turn on an aircraft for maintenance is a frequent evolution that would be consider as a team-based aviation activity. It is a procedure that has specific instructions that requires only highly trained, qualified and responsible personnel to perform an engine turn on an aircraft. Nevertheless, performing an engine turn can turn into a monotonous and tedious task when it becomes a habitual procedure on the daily. It is important to exhibit the highest standards of professionalism and technical competence when tasked with this type of evolution or else a mishap or human factor will be in effect. For the examples below, I am using a Naval Aviation Maintenance instruction that deals with the engine turns on the E-6B Mercury (Boeing-707).

The challenges and contributing factors when performing an engine turn includes:

  • The possibility of damaging an aircraft or injuring a person from an operating engine
  • The evolution occurring in a new/different location than normal
  • Environmental factors due to weather or high winds
  • Mechanical or internal failure with the operational engine
  • Engine malfunctions that can cause damages (hung start, hot start, exceeding EGT…)
  • Fire in the engine or tailpipe
  • The possibility of jumping choke during a high power turn
  • Personnel feeling fatigue, nervous or unconfident during the evolution
  • Foreign Object Damage hazard
  • Failure to properly instruct trainees
  • Lack of qualified personnel
  • Not reviewing the Aircraft Discrepancy Book or thoroughly briefing the crew

For all Low or High power engine turns, there is a minimum personnel requirement that shall be present during all operations.

  • Qualified low and high power turn-up operator
  • Qualified brake rider and starboard seat observer
  • APU/Flight Engineer observer
  • Qualified plane captain (long cord)
  • Flight Line Coordinator or Quality Assurance (QA)
  • Fire bottle watch

It is imperative that everyone that is involved in an engine turn evolution are constantly using ORM, understands his/her responsibilities, can identify potential hazards that can occur and are comfortable during the procedure in order to prevent any human factors.

  

References:

Federal Aviation Administration. (n.d.). Role of Human Factors in the FAA. HF.FAA. https://www.hf.faa.gov/media/RoleOfHF-FAA.pdf

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK). (2016). Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/media/04_phak_ch2.pdf

 

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