The human factor
In order to continually improve safety, human factor contribution to each aviation incident must be determined. Thus more information is learned and new and better measures are applied for incident prevention in the future.
The aviation incident investigation reports usually provide clarity of what and when happened, but in a number of cases this is as far as they go. They lack the explanation of how and why this negative for the safety result has occurred. Therefore the main problems that have led to the “breach” of the human conduct and consequently to the aviation incident, must be identified, analyzed and understood. When showing up that the pilot or the Air Traffic Controller (ATCO) has not abided by the rules, does this mean that the rules are well justified, safe and adequate for the given situation? Therefore by narrowing the conclusion to phrases like “pilot’s mistake” or “the ATCO failed to comply or adhere to the established standard operational procedures”, the investigation focus is being narrowed.
BULATSA uses “Methodology for Analysis of the Human Factor, as a Cause of Aviation Incidents”, developed to meet the need for detailed investigation of the aviation incidents, having contribution by the ATS body, in order to prevent their happening in the future. The positive result is achieved after fulfilling the preset adequate recommendations regarding the human factor.
The Methodology for Analysis of the Human Factor has the following several goals:
- Creation of a consistent, adequate and understandable algorithm for analysis and classification of the ATCO human factor, which can be used routinely in the investigations of aviation incidents, having contribution by the ATS body;
- Acquainting ATCOs with the peculiarities of the human factor, which might contribute to happening of an aviation incident, and the eventual positive result – improving the psychological training of ATS ATCOs.
- Identification of unfavorable trends in the ATCO professional training and abilities, which can be avoided in the future by setting of adequate recommendations;
- Creation of a specific algorithm, enabling the determination of an ATCO action as a non-compliance with operational procedures;
- Improving the ATS safety in BULATSA with regard to the human factor.