Human Error in Aviation

Most aviation accidents are attributed to human error, pilot error especially. Human error also greatly effects productivity and profitability. In his overview of this collection of papers, the editor points out that these facts are often misinterpreted as evidence of deficiency on the part of operators involved in accidents. Human factors research reveals a more accurate and useful perspective: The errors made by skilled human operators - such as pilots, controllers, and mechanics - are not root causes but symptoms of the way industry operates. The papers selected for this volume have strongly influenced modern thinking about why skilled experts make errors and how to make aviation error resilient.

Contents: Introduction and section overviews; Part I Conceptual Frameworks for Thinking About Human Error: Overview; The contribution of latent human failures to the breakdown of complex systems, J. Reason; Widening the search for accident causes, D. Maurino, J. Reason, N. Johnston and R. Lee; Converging themes: the deep structure of accidents, R. Dismukes, B. Berman and L. Loukopoulos; Human error and commercial aviation accidents: analysis using the human factors analysis system, S. Shappell, C. Detwiler, K. Holcomb and C. Hackworth; Illusions of explanation: a critical essay on error classification, S. Dekker; The paradoxes of almost totally safe transport systems, R. Amalberti. Part II Specific Aspects of Skilled Human Performance: Overview; Human workload in aviation, B. Kantowitz and P. Casper; Attentional models of multitask pilot performance using advanced display technology, C. Wickens, J. Goh, J. Helleberg, W. Horrey and D. Talleur; Pilot interaction with cockpit automation II: an experimental study of pilots' model and awareness of the flight management system, N. Sarter and D. Woods; Pilots' monitoring strategies and performance on automated flight decks: an empirical study combining behavioral and eye-tracking data, N. Sarter, R. Mumaw and C. Wickens; Toward a theory of situation awareness in dynamic systems, M. Endsley; Risk perception and risk management in aviation, J. Orasanu, U. Fischer and J. Davison; The evolution of crew resource management, R.L. Helmreich, A.C. Merritt and J.A. Wilhelm; Crews as groups: their formation and their leadership, R. Ginnett; Predictors of threat and error management: identification of core non-technical skills and implications for training systems design, M.J.W. Thomas; The importance of crew resource management behaviors in mission performance: implications for training evaluation, R. Nullmeyer and V. Spiker. Part III Factors Affecting Skilled Performance: Overview; Fatigue in aviation, J. Caldwell; Pilot performance and stress, A. Stokes and K. Kite; Assessing cognitive aging in piloting, P. Tsang; The role of situation assessment and flight experience in pilots' decisions to continue visual flight rules flight into adverse weather, D. Wiegmann, J. Goh and D. O'Hare; Organizational factors associated with safety and mission success in aviation environments, R. Westrum and A. Adamski; The link between safety attitudes and observed performance in flight operations, J. Sexton and J. Klinect. Part IV Beyond the Cockpit: Overview; A review of human error in aviation maintenance and inspection, K.A. Latorella and P.V. Prabhu; Errors of memory in air traffic control, S.T. Shorrock. Index.