Human Factors (HF) and our understanding of its effects on safety performance continues to evolve and develop.

In order to reduce HF risks in aviation safety we must influence attitudes and behaviours while embedding HF thinking into everything we do.

By taking this approach we aim to improve aviation safety and keep the interest of the consumer at the heart of our work.

A range of projects will help us meet our strategic commitments:

Safety reporting

As part of our work to help promote a Just Culture we are working with BALPA to study the causes and extent of potentially unreported safety occurrences, including investigating reporting culture amongst pilots. The results will help develop more effective safety initiatives.

Human Factors (HF) in Safety Management Systems (SMS)

Helping organisations embed HF principals and identifying specific HF issues that need to be addressed by SMS.

Human Factors day to day

Looking at how best to measure the effectiveness of safety measures.

ATM Automation

Promoting use of recently completed guidance on how to manage the human-technology integration of ATM Automation.

Pilot performance

This work includes reviewing the life cycle of pilot training; developing a methodology for assessing and standardising the quality of flight examiners across Europe; and a review of approaches to CRM.

Engineer performance

Working closely with industry to reduce the impact of maintenance Human Factors errors and develop: more effective safety interventions; improved personal competencies; safety culture and improve maintenance standards.

Fatigue

We have commissioned research to look at how to test the effect of fatigue against performance and develop a robust and simple fatigue self assessment tool. This will allow organisations to better manage fatigue risks across their safety critical workforce.

Improving information

Working with EASA and ECCAIRS to establish an updated taxonomy to improve the HF information gathered through our MOR scheme. This will help identify and target risk.

Additional work

We are also investigating the feasibility of a combined simulated environment for air traffic controller and pilot training and also seeking to improve the quality of English language used in UK airspace.

If you have any feedback to give on the strategy or anything relating to human factors in civil aviation please contact us at human.factors@caa.co.uk.