HFG Background, Aims and Activities

Activity Overview

Human Factors on the Flight Deck

human factors on the flight deck

Human factors has been identified as the last area in which significant gains in aviation safety are possible. Persistently, some 70-80% of accidents are attributed to human error. This has have made the topic a high priority with operators, regulators and researchers.

Crew Resource Management, initially developed in the United States, is advocated by ICAO and others as the primary means of reducing aviation human factors accidents. The HFG is active in encouraging the development of CRM programmes and improving their quality.

In particular, the HFG has explored CRM issues relating to cultural, regulatory and operational characteristics of the multinational UK/European environment; and the broader organisational aspects of human error prevention. The HFG expects to contribute to progress in these areas by bringing together international experts, line pilots and instructors, and both large and small operators from the UK and elsewhere.

Background

The group was formed as the Industry CRM Group in 1990 to provide a multi-disciplinary focus for research, discussion and understanding of current and future CRM and broader Human Factors issues.

It was conceived as a non-commercial body representing all industrial sectors involved in aviation human factors training, including:

  • flight crew
  • operational and training management
  • cabin staff, ATC, dispatch, maintenance and ground operations staff
  • regulators
  • researchers
  • governmental and inter-governmental agencies
  • training suppliers and consultants

In order to better address the growing range of Human Factors issues in aviation, the CRM Group in 1994 became the Human Factors Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society, the learned body for aviation in the United Kingdom. As such it has no agenda other than the academic pursuit of flight safety as part of the Society as a whole.

Aims and Objectives

The group will achieve its purpose by arranging a programme of lectures, conferences, position papers, publications and visits of a standard befitting the Society's position as the UK's Learned Society for Aviation. Proceedings will be made available where possible. The committee will:

  • Advise the Council and Director of the Society on relevant subjects, taking the initiative when considered appropriate
  • Endeavour to represent, through its membership, an appropriate cross-section of disciplines from the broadest possible spectrum of the aviation inductry
  • Pursue a policy of active collaboration with other Groups of the Society and with external organisations
  • Encourage participation by line pilots and other front line operational crew to ensure a balanced and representative view.

and carry out other activities which further the aims described in the Constitution and following Mission Statement:

Mission Statement

The Human Factors Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society exists to improve standards of safety in aviation by promoting better industry understanding of human factors hazards and techniques for dealing with them.

Committee members place their committment to the aims of the Group before any commercial or party interests.

Services and Facilities

The Human Factors Group is a full professional committee of the Royal Aeronautical Society. It meets in committee four to six times a year in addition to holding an Annual General Meeting.

The Human Factors Group committee plans conferences, directs research and advises operators and regulators on Human Factors issues.

The Committee establishes and coordinates the activities of several standing groups (SGs) looking at areas of interest (CRM, ATC, Maintenance Engineering, Research, Ramp Safety, Human Interface Design, Conferences) and focus teams addressing specific current issues such as facilitator accreditation. Individuals from the Aviation community and other suitable fields shall be invited to join these groups as required by the SGs to achieve their aims.