Crew Resource Management in Human Factors


                Humans are messy, accident-prone creatures. Plain and simple. We forget things, we skip over tasks, and we make errors in all aspects of life. It is in highly specialized activities requiring a certain level of skill, such as aviation, that this kind of human error starts to become especially important. If a pilot makes errors in judgement, accidentally misses a checklist, misses a warning light, or forgets some critical component of flying, then the consequences may be dire. Accidents throughout the years have been connected to these kinds of mistakes and have been labeled as accidents caused by pilot error, or in other words, Human Factors. Human Factors then is related to the very essence of being human and making mistakes. There have been many an effort to curb these errors in aviation and improve safety for all, an effort that I would argue has been mostly successful. 

                Human Factors, as described by the FAA, is 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" (The role of human factors in the FAA). This effort to increase safety by studying the limitations of human beings has culminated in efforts to redesign systems and procedures as well as implement new training protocols. The biggest effort put forth in commercial aviation to curb human error would have to relate to the implementation of Crew Resource Management, or CRM. “Crew Resource Management (CRM) is the effective use of all available resources for flight crew personnel to assure a safe and efficient operation, reducing error, avoiding stress and increasing efficiency” (Crew Resource Management (CRM) 2021). 

                It is the goal of CRM to allow safer, more efficient flight operations by utilizing all available resources, including the other flight crew members and in-flight tools/resources. It is a staple of airline training in the 21st century and has been an important part of continual safety increases for the industry over the last handful of decades. CRM specifically battles Human Factors in the sense that it attempts to reduce the errors of human limitations by enlisting the help of others. Stressors, fatigue, and complex procedures are all better managed when utilizing CRM concepts. Having another pilot in the cockpit helps distribute the workload which in turn reduces errors and allows for collaboration in decision making. Enlisting the help of Air Traffic Control, properly utilizing on-board weather systems, and asking for help from a flight attendant during emergencies are all ways that CRM helps to prevent our faulty human tendencies from getting the best of us during high workload operations.



Crew Resource Management (CRM). SKYbrary Aviation Safety. (2021, December 8).  https://skybrary.aero/articles/crew-resource-management-crm

FAA. (n.d.). The role of human factors in the FAA. FAA Human Factors Division | Role of Human Factors in the FAA.  https://www.hf.faa.gov/role.aspx





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