Human Performance in Aviation

Aviation is increasingly viewed as a highly sophisticated and complex system. It is of vital importance to understand and manage both the fundamental characteristics and limitations of human performance in such complex systems, and the social and behavioural aspects that are fundamental to human capability.

Human Performance in Aviation (Human Factors) encompasses the broad study of how people relate to and operate within their work environment. It is a major contributor to aviation safety and an efficient working environment.

Human Factors Integration (HFI) in aviation aims at increasing the awareness of the human element within the context of the system with the objective of improving safety by improving the human-machine interface.

Instructions are written to make people do what we want and develop them to encompass lessons learnt. But who reads them? People and procedures need to be better understood to ensure you achieve your aim.

Bringing proficient and effective individuals together to form a group or a set of views does not automatically imply that the group will function in a proficient and effective way unless they can function as a team. For them to do so successfully then leadership, good communication, crew-co-operation, teamwork and personality interactions are required. Crew/Team Resource Management (CRM/TRM) and Line Oriented Flight Training can assist in achieving that goal. The majority of accidents have lapses in human performance as contributing causal factorsCRM can become Corporate or Company Resource Management, since staff/management relationships, corporate climate and company operating pressures can significantly affect human performance. The majority of accidents have lapses in human performance as contributing causal factors.

One of the most difficult interfaces to match is the human and the environment. Aviation operates within the context of broad social, political, economical and natural environmental constraints. These are often beyond the control of the human being. Those threats need to be understood and risks mitigated.