Boeing developed the crew information requirements analysis process to better understand how flight crews use the data and cues they are given. It provides a way to analyze how crews acquire, interpret, and integrate data into information upon which to base their actions. The analysis helps Boeing understand how the crew arrived or failed to arrive at an understanding of events. Since it was developed in the mid-1990s, such analysis has been applied internally in safety analyses supporting airplane design, accident and incident analyses, and research.
Training Aids
Boeing has applied its human factors expertise to help develop training aids to improve flight safety. An example is the company’s participation with the aviation industry on a takeoff safety training aid to address rejected takeoff runway accidents and incidents. Boeing proposed and led a training tool effort with participation from line pilots in the industry. The team designed and conducted scientifically based simulator studies to determine whether the proposed training aid would be effective in helping crews cope with this safety issue. Similarly, the controlled flight into terrain training aid resulted from a joint effort by flight crew training instructor pilots, human factors engineering, and aerodynamics engineering.
Answer the questions.
1. Why has human error become a major concern in maintenance practices and air traffic management?
2. Why do Boeing human factors professionals work with engineers, pilots and mechanics?
3. Why has the term “human factor” grown increasingly popular?
4. Why is a sound scientific basis so necessary?
5. What does flight crew communication rely on?
6. Why will flight crews be expected to assume much larger roles in route planning and metering for approaches in the future?
7. What can you say about the effect of uplink message formats on pilot comprehension in Boeing aircraft?
8. What has Boeing developed to help to understand the errors?
9. Error management. How do you understand it?
10. What does a trained investigator interview the flight crew to do?
11. What has the Boeing maintenance human factors provided?
12. What are three tools which assist in managing error?
13. What does crew information requirements analysis provide?