General Principles

Aviation accidents: most have human error component

CRM Evolution

Evolution of CRM to fifth-generation

Objectives of CRM

• Objectives of CRM

• Knowledge, skills, attitudes to promote safe, efficient operations:

• Effective decision making
• Good crew communication
• Understanding/acceptance of role and responsibilities

• CRM focuses broadly on training transportable teamwork skills

Types of CRM course

• Types of CRM course

• Foundation Course

• Wide range of topics covered
• Focus on discussion and video

• Continuation Courses

• In depth coverage of topic areas
• Skills practice (low fidelity)

• LOFT/MOST

• Skills practice (high fidelity)
• Crew-centred debrief

Topics in typical CRM courses

• Topics in typical CRM courses

• Human information processing
• Personality and attitudes
• Communications
• Teamwork structures
• Teamwork behaviours
• Leadership style
• Decision making
• Stress management
• Human error
• Situation awareness
• Automation on the flight deck
• Fatigue and workload
• Case studies & research findings
• Be able to list the main topics

Leadership issues

• Leadership issues

• Effects of captain’s attitudes

• Authority Gradient

Communication

• Communication

• US ASRS: most accidents involved failure of information transfer
• Low-error crews demonstrate different patterns of comms

• Communication skills know them!

• Inquiry
• Advocacy
• Listening
• Conflict resolution
• Critique
• Feedback

• Barriers to communication

• Physical; word usage; interpersonal; mental
• Cultural and language barriers
• Subordination problems
• ‘Power-distance’ barriers

Core teamwork behaviours

• Core teamwork behaviours

• Monitoring
• Feedback
• Backing up

• Ad hoc teams

• Frequently arise in airline ops
• 73% of accidents occur on first day crew flying together

• Situation awareness

• Important topic in CRM
• See lecture on SA!

CRM training resources

• CRM training resources

• Self-study
• Classroom awareness training
• Modelling
• Classroom skills training
• Skills practice in simulators
• Practice/coaching during flying

LOFT

• LOFT

• Run in a high fidelity simulator
• Realistic sortie/real time
• Crew and facilitator ‘in role’
• Few failures
• Non-technical focus
• Focus on choice dilemmas
• Non jeopardy
• Crew-centred debrief using video

• CRM Issues

• What is ‘best practice’?
• Does it work?
• Those needing most help from CRM most resistant to change
• May change attitudes but not behaviour
• Needs management commitment
• CRM skill fade occurs over time
• Cultural issues should be considered