1.

3 Discussion: Human Error

One of the key principles in human factors design is to prevent or minimize human error. Five types of
error are introduced in the readings (Guastello). From these types of error, select the one you believe
presents the greatest challenge to human factors specialists and engineers in the aviation/aerospace
sectors and is the most resistant to remediation or minimization. Explain your rationale and provide at
least one scholarly source to support your position. Submit your observation (using APA format where
applicable) for this activity before the end of the module week. Comment on at least one other student's
work, in accordance with the requirements as explained in the syllabus, by the end of the module week.

In aviation maintenance, human conditions such as fatigue, conceit, stress and etc., are
very important. These conditions are generally referred to as human factors. Most of the
human factors act as direct causes or indirect contributors to airline accidents. In
general, it is not an exaggeration to say that 80% of maintenance errors are caused by
human factors (Guastello, 2014). When neglecting human factors that can cause these
errors, the occurrence of an accident can cause not only an injury to the worker and
delay in work but even a major accident.
Aviation maintenance has undergone many changes over the past few years. With the
advent of super-large aircraft, such as the Airbus 380, equipped with advanced
materials, power supplies, and electrical and electronic systems that were not available
in previous aircraft models, mechanics must learn new systems, equipment, and
procedures, and perform maintenance work (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and
Transport, 2016).
As well as aircraft manufacturing technology, technologies for maintenance of aircraft
are developing day by day, but one thing that does not change is that most aircraft
maintenance work is done by people.
Since the interest in the human factors in the field of aviation maintenance after the
B737 aircraft accident of Aloha Airlines in 1988 in the United States, the United States,
the United Kingdom, and Canada have been conducting research on the human factors
in the field of aviation maintenance, and in the industry such as Boeing, We have
developed MEDA (Maintenance Error Decision Aid), which can discriminate aviation
maintenance errors, and applied them to the field to see many achievements (Ministry
of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, 2016).
Most studies of aviation human factors have traditionally focused on flight crew and
control sectors that operate aircraft directly. This is because the maintenance and
inspection errors are treated as one of the causes in many accidents, so research on
the maintenance sector is weak compared to the operation sector. It is clear, however,
that aviation safety is achieved when the three beats of a pilot, as well as a flight
controller guiding air navigation, and a mechanic servicing a designed aircraft are in
harmony.
Phillips (1994) reports that 18% of all airline accidents in the United States were caused
by maintenance factors. In addition, according to the latest International Air Transport
Association's Safety Report (IATA Safety Report, 2013), 29% of airline accidents
occurring in 2009-2013 are reported to be related to maintenance factors (Ministry of
Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, 2016).
The British Airways Agency (CAA, 2003) identified human factors in the field of aviation
maintenance as human factors related to the health status, vision, hearing and fatigue
and stress of the mechanic, and environmental factors such as weather, temperature,
humidity and noise, and communication and work shifts. It is categorized into
procedures and organizational factors related to maintenance work procedures and is
introduced extensively.
In an effort to identify the factors that cause the most frequent maintenance accidents,
the British Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) conducted an in-depth study of
maintenance in terms of aviation maintenance operations. Announced (Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, and Transport, 2016).
• Incorrect mounting of components
• Assembling wrong parts
• Electrical wiring mismatch
• Lost tools and parts
• Insufficient lubrication
• Do not lock access panels, fairings, and engine covers
• Do not lock fuel or oil stoppers and fuel panels
• Do not remove the gear lock pin before departure
The above-mentioned maintenance errors can be avoided if the operation is performed
according to the procedure using the maintenance work card, and regardless of the
working time, the operation card must be faithfully and accurately completed with the
work card every time.
Historically, 20% of all accidents were caused by machine failures, and 80% were
caused by human factors (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, 2016). At first,
the interest in human factors was concentrated in the pilot group, but recently it has
been expanded to the mechanic's training area. Through an in-depth review of the
aviation incident, it was discovered that a series of human errors, known as links to
events, was allowed to be created until the accident occurred. If it had been cut off in
the maintenance phase in the chain of events, the chances of an accident would have
been significantly reduced.
What is Human Error? Literally human error. In other words, it refers to a person's
mistake, which includes misunderstanding, delusion, carelessness, etc. There is no
perfection in what humans do. Mistakes always occur where people work. Everyone can
make mistakes in their lives and there are lessons learned from them. However, in
modern society, it is necessary to take extreme caution to prevent even one mistake.
So, many aviation companies are trying to prevent human error through technology.
However, it is humans who do all of this, even if the technology develops and the
human error decreases. Reducing accident prevention due to technological advances is
also important, but more importantly, it is more important to prevent people from
working on aircraft from making these mistakes again. The solution is to teach the
knowledge of their work through education and prevent accidents in advance through
monthly education in order to prevent accidents due to self-conceit. And in order to
relieve the burden on employees and reduce their stress, they should be given enough
rest or vacation. In addition, through dialogue with employees, measures to be
improved should be implemented.
 
References
Guastello, S.J. (2014). Human Factors Engineering and Ergonomics: A Systems
Approach (2 ed). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. (2016). General for AMEs: Human
Factors. Seoul.