Using Applied Behavior to Complement Error Management in Crew Resource Management Education

This paper examines the science of applied behavior analysis and its potential integration into current research and practice of threat and error management for internal crew behaviors. Discussions provide insight into how an Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (ABC) analysis of behavior can reveal to educators, the antecedents and consequences for at-risk crew behavior. This paper will redefine crew at-risk behaviors as anti-error behaviors that prevent internal error occurrence. This new perspective will complement and enhance the total threat-error process model. Finally the challenges and implications of using crew reinforcement to maintain anti-error behavior using modified line-oriented flight training (LOFT) will be discussed

Using Graphic Feedback to Eliminate Checklist Segment Timing Errors

This study examined whether pilots initiated paper or digital checklist use from environmental prompts accurately when they receive post-flight graphic and limited verbal feedback. Participants were 6 college students who are pilots with instrument rating. The task consisted of flying a designated flight pattern using a Frasca 241 Cirrus Flight Training Device. The dependent variable was the percentage of paper and digital checklist segments initiated at the proper time. A single-subject, alternating treatment, multiple baseline design with withdrawal and delayed probes was employed in this study. During baseline, participants were given only post-flight technical skills feedback. During intervention, participants were given both technical skills feedback and post-flight graphic feedback on both paper and digital checklist use and praise for improvements. A probe was used between 60-90 days to assess any decrement in participant\u27s performance. The intervention produced highly improved paper and digital checklist timing performance, which improved to nearly perfect following the withdrawal of treatment and increased to perfect performance through the probe sessions

Establishing a Total Safety Culture within a Flight Department

This article will present behavior-based principles and procedures that can be successfully applied to change safety attitudes in a Flight Department. First, limitations and flaws of the human condition are discussed, and three basic ways employees can learn safe behavior are addressed. Next, Crew Resource Management is proposed as a tool to increase overall safety in Business Aviation. Safety is then reviewed in the context of the overall goals of the corporation and the cost of doing business. Senior Corporate management is identified as holding the key to the successful and safe operation of the corporate Flight Department. Finally, critical issues surrounding Corporate Culture and the ultimate goal of a Total Safety Culture are discussed. Recommendations are then made to increase the overall safety level of the Business Aviation environment

The Effect of Experiential Education on Pilots\u27 VFR into IMC Decision-Making

In aviation, safety is always a primary consideration, and this is especially true during a pilot’s flight training to instill that safety mentality. However, this means that pilots are restricted by safety policies from encountering difficult weather situations during their training, which could, potentially, improve their weather decision-making skills for avoiding future hazardous weather encounters. Thirty-six general aviation pilots of varying instrument flight experience (IF) were allocated, using stratified random sampling based on their IF, to one of three groups, a control group and two educational treatment intervention groups. The educational treatment interventions were designed to improve the participant’s ability in recognizing deteriorating weather (reducing visibility) conditions, to prevent flying from visual flight rules (VFR) into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) by the use of experiential education. Intervention one was web-based only and intervention two was web and personal computer (PC) simulator based. Each pilot flew a simulated flight along a fjord in Alaska under visual flight rules in deteriorating visual weather that became instrument conditions. Type of intervention and experience-related demographic factors were analyzed to determine what factors contributed to safe weather-related decisions. Type of educational treatment intervention was found to be the only statistically significant demographic predictor of safe performance. Pilots who received the web-based only intervention were better able to assess deteriorating visibility and avoid instrument weather. Implications of this study and opportunities for future research are discussed

VFR-into-IMC Accident Trends: Perceptions of Deficiencies in Training

Pilots who operate under visual flight rules (VFR) and in visual meteorological conditions, who then continue flight into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), remain as one of the leading causes of fatal aircraft accidents in general aviation. This paper examines past and current research initiatives, in seeking to identify causal factors and gaps in training that lead to VFR-into-IMC aircraft accidents, using a mixed methods approach. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Air Safety Institute database and the National Transportation Safety Board database search engines were used to identify accident reports associated with VFR flight into IMC/deteriorating weather conditions for a 10-year time period (2003 to 2012). A national survey was also conducted to gain deeper insight into the self-identified training deficiencies of pilots. There is evidence that situational awareness is linked to decision-making, and there is a lack of proper training with regards to weather and weather technology concepts, making it difficult for pilots to gain these knowledge areas, skills, and abilities throughout their initial flight training and subsequent experience

Stratigies for Contolling Checklist Reading Behavior: A Literature Review

One of the highest frequencies of errors recorded by recent Line Oriented Safety Audits (LOSA) is within the category of intentional non-compliance of which checklists use is included. These errors have led to serious lapses in risk management and many well- documented cases of aircraft accidents. This paper reviews the literature of both organizational behavior management and applied behavior analysis where checklist use is an independent variable. This report presents various methods and technologies from other settings which may prove useful in the flight-training environment. Also included is a proposed study that will be conducted at a major flight training facility using undergraduate participants involved in checklist use while undergoing instrument flight training. This study applies various treatments to the participants to measure the effectiveness of checklist reading behavior and performance. Measures examine both, short term and long term effects of treatment, as well as any generalization of checklist reading performance to more advanced training environments

Comparing the Accuracy of Performing Digital and Paper Checklists Using a Feedback Intervention Package During Normal Workload Conditions in Simulated Flight

This study examined whether pilots completed airplane digital and paper checklists more accurately when they received post-flight graphic and verbal feedback. Participants were 6 college student pilots with instrument ratings. The task consisted of flying flight patterns using a Frasca 241 Flight Training Device which emulates the Cirrus SR20. An alternating treatment, multiple baseline design across pairs with reversal was used. Visual inspection and statistical analysis of the data suggests that paper checklist accuracy does not differ significantly from digital checklist accuracy during normal workload conditions. The results also suggest that graphic feedback and praise can be used to increase the extent to which pilots use both digital and paper checklists accurately