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Threat And Error Management (TEM) In Aviation Industry

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Threat And Error Management (TEM) In Aviation Industry

Human factors are the field that analyzes how humans interact with machines and

other technological systems. Understanding and mitigating the risks associated with flight

dangers and mistakes is the subject of threat and error management (TEM), a core topic in

human factors research (Brennan et al., 2020). A flight’s safety may be jeopardized by a

number of different things, including bad weather and equipment failure. However, errors

refer to mistakes committed by pilots, air traffic controllers, or other aviation professionals

that put passengers at risk. TEM is a preventative method for handling these problems that

entail seeing problems before they happen, developing plans to stop them from happening,

and acting swiftly and appropriately when they do. Accurate TEM is necessary for flight

safety since it allows pilots and other aviation personnel to foresee and prevent possible

threats (Brennan et al., 2020). Pilots and other aviation professionals may use TEM to make

more informed judgments and take preventative measures to lessen the likelihood of issues

and accidents.

Factors that can contribute to human factors threats and errors in aviation

Accidents and events in the aviation business are often the results of human error,

which includes careless actions taken by a wide range of parties. In the aviation business,

human error has been a far more significant contributor to accidents than any natural cause.

As such, the presence of human variables in any sector may be rationalized by the belief that

humans are prone to making mistakes. Mistakes made in the case study offered concerning

Air Canada include putting off cleaning the plane until the next day. Unfortunately, human

error is unavoidable in the aviation industry, but there are ways to lessen the odds. Threats

and mistakes made in aviation due to human error may be caused by a number of different

things. Workload, stress, fatigue, communication, training, experience, organizational culture,

and technology are all contributors.

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Workload

High levels of stress and fatigue are a common reality for pilots and other aviation

workers. Numerous long-haul flights in a short amount of time, complicated flight plans, and

juggling multiple duties at once all contribute to an excessive workload. Pilot and flight

attendant fatigue may manifest itself in a number of ways that compromise safety. Mental

and physical exhaustion brought on by an excessive workload may hinder decision-making

and raise the possibility of errors (Santos & Melicio, 2019). Also, stress brought on by having

too much work on one’s duty may have the same negative effects on judgment and

productivity as a heavy job. Further, pilots and flight attendants may make mistakes due to

fatigue caused by excessive workloads (Santos & Melicio, 2019). A pilot, for instance, may

make mistakes like misjudging altitude or velocity if they are overworked and cannot devote

their whole attention to operating the aircraft. There is a risk that a flight attendant who is

overworked would make errors, such as neglecting to check a passenger’s seatbelt or failing

to properly lock the cabin before departure (Santos & Melicio, 2019). As a whole, pilots and

flight attendants with too much on their plates run the danger of making mistakes that might

have severe ramifications for the safety of the flight. If airlines and aviation corporations

want their pilots and flight attendants to be able to handle heavy workloads safely, they need

to become better at managing those workloads.

Stress

The aviation industry is only one of several high-risk fields where stress is prevalent.

Pilots and other aviation workers may be confronted with high levels of stress owing to

variables such as tight timetables, demanding passengers, or tough weather conditions.

Extreme anxiety may hinder judgment and cause blunders in judgment. The aviation industry

is only one of several high-risk fields where stress is prevalent (Li et al., 2021). High levels of

stress may be experienced by pilots and other aviation workers owing to variables such as
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demanding passengers and difficult weather. Extreme anxiety may hinder judgment and

cause blunders in judgment. A pilot who is under a lot of pressure, for instance, could feel

overwhelmed and make mistakes like underestimating the altitude or overestimating the

velocity. A flight attendant under pressure may become sloppy or forgetful, leading to

potentially dangerous situations like passengers not having their seatbelts checked or the

cabin not being properly secured before departure. In the aviation sector as a whole, stress is

a key contributor to human error. In order to assist pilots and other aviation professionals in

dealing with high levels of stress, airlines and aviation corporations must have

comprehensive stress management and support programs (Li et al., 2021). Training on stress

management, giving tools for coping with stress, and enacting rules and procedures may all

contribute to a less stressful workplace.

Fatigue

Pilots and other aviation professionals generally work long hours and erratic

schedules, making fatigue a major issue in the industry. Errors and mishaps are more likely to

occur when one is tired because of diminished alertness and decision-making capacity. Since

pilots and other aviation professionals often work long hours and erratic schedules, fatigue is

a widespread issue in the business. Fatigue may impair one’s ability to pay attention and

make sound decisions, which in turn raises the risk of making mistakes and having accidents

(Kaspers et al., 2021). A tired pilot, for instance, would have trouble keeping his or her mind

on the task at hand, increasing the likelihood of mistakes like incorrectly estimating altitude

or velocity. Forgetting to check a passenger’s seatbelt or neglecting to properly lock the cabin

before departure are just two examples of the kinds of blunders that may be made by a sleep-

deprived flight attendant (Kaspers et al., 2021). Human weariness is a significant contributor

to aircraft accidents. In order to keep its pilots and other aviation professionals alert and safe,

airlines and aviation corporations must implement efficient fatigue management practices.
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Limiting the number of hours that pilots and flight attendants may work each day is one

example of a policy and process that can be implemented to minimize tiredness.

Communication

To guarantee the safety of a flight, it is essential for pilots and other aviation experts

to be able to communicate with each other in a clear and precise manner. Misunderstandings

and mistakes, not to mention added stress and extra effort, may result from a lack of

communication. The safety of a flight depends on the ability of pilots and other aviation

experts to communicate with one another in a clear and precise manner (Casali et al., 2019).

Misunderstandings and mistakes, not to mention more stress and effort, may result from a

lack of communication. If a flight attendant is having trouble conveying her message to the

passengers, she may give them confusing directions or leave out crucial safety information,

both of which might put the passengers in danger (Casali et al., 2019). In the aviation

business as a whole, human mistakes are mostly the result of ineffective communication. In

order to ensure that pilots and other aviation professionals are able to communicate clearly

and accurately, airlines and aviation corporations must offer training and support for good

communication and develop rules and procedures to that end. This may include installing

systems and technology as well as offering training on communication skills and procedures

to improve the quality and effectiveness of interactions.

Training and experience

Human factors, risks, and mistakes may also be influenced by pilots’ and other

aviation professionals’ degrees of training and experience. Pilots who lack the appropriate

education or experience will be more prone to making mistakes and won’t have the expertise

to handle emergencies. Human mistakes in aviation may be caused by inexperience or lack of

training among pilots and other aviation professionals (Kharoufah et al., 2021). In the event

of an emergency, pilots who lack the requisite training or experience may be more prone to
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making blunders or other errors and may lack the ability to react effectively to the situation.

For example, a pilot who has not had enough time in the cockpit or training can be

unprepared for challenging circumstances like bad weather or equipment failure. This might

cause the pilot to make poor judgments in an emergency, such as incorrectly estimating

altitude or velocity. Inadequate training and experience are common causes of human

mistakes in the aviation sector. Airlines and aviation corporations have a responsibility to

their passengers and the public at large to hire and train pilots and other aviation

professionals to the highest standards (Kharoufah et al., 2021). As such, it is necessary to

create systems to monitor and assess pilot performance and competency, in addition to

offering frequent training and updates on new rules and technology.

Organizational culture

Human factors and mistakes may also be influenced by the company’s or airline’s

culture. Errors and accidents may be avoided with the support of a culture that places

emphasis on safety and promotes open communication and collaboration. However, the

likelihood of mistakes and accidents rises in a workplace where profit is prioritized above

safety, and open dialogue is discouraged. Human mistakes in aviation are not always caused

by poor training or lack of experience, though. Errors and accidents may be prevented, in

part, by fostering a culture that places a premium on safety and values collaboration and open

dialogue (Kelly & Efthymiou, 2019). However, the likelihood of mistakes and accidents rises

in a workplace where profit is valued more than the safety and when open dialogue is

discouraged.

An airline with a strong safety-focused culture, for instance, could have rules and

procedures in place that encourage pilots and other aviation workers to report mistakes and

near-misses and that provide assistance and resources for addressing hazards and errors. As a

result, issues may be addressed before they escalate into incidents or accidents. A profit-
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driven airline, on the other hand, could put passenger comfort and on-time arrival ahead of

safety and would not give the same amount of assistance in dealing with potential dangers

and mistakes. The likelihood of making mistakes or having an accident rises in such a

situation. Human mistakes in the aviation sector are mostly attributable to the industry’s

pervasive and sometimes rigid organizational culture. Companies in the aviation industry,

including airlines, must foster a culture of safety and error management, as well as provide

the necessary resources to do so (Kelly & Efthymiou, 2019). In order to assist pilots and other

aviation professionals in dealing with dangers and mistakes, it may be necessary to develop

rules and procedures that encourage open communication and collaboration and to provide

training and support.

Technology

Aviation safety has been substantially enhanced by technological progress, but these

advancements may also provide new difficulties and risks. While advances in cockpit

automation and technology have the potential to make flying safer and more convenient, they

also present risks if misused. The aviation business relies heavily on technology, and recent

technological developments have significantly improved flight safety. But if it isn’t handled

appropriately, technology may also bring forth new difficulties and risks, and it can add to

human mistakes (Yilmaz, 2019). Even though modern automation and technology in the

cockpit may make flying simpler and safer, they can pose a risk if not handled appropriately.

Inexperienced or poorly qualified pilots may be more prone to make mistakes with new

technology, such as neglecting to keep an eye on the flying instruments or misreading the

data on the cockpit displays.

Additionally, new channels of communication and coordination between pilots, air

traffic controllers, and other aviation professionals may be established via the use of

technology. However, if they are not utilized in the appropriate manner, these new
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technologies may also offer new sources of inaccuracy and misunderstanding. For instance, if

a pilot is unfamiliar with a new communication technology, he or she can have trouble

comprehending or reacting to communications from air traffic control, which might result in

mistakes or collisions (Yilmaz, 2019). It is critical for airlines and aviation firms to offer

sufficient training and support for pilots and other aviation professionals in order to guarantee

that they have the appropriate training and experience in making use of new technology.

Additionally, it is essential for these organizations to develop rules and processes that

encourage the safe and efficient use of technology in aviation.

Importance of Effective threat and error management in the aviation industry

The fact that TEM takes a preventative rather than a reactive strategy to mitigate the

hazards associated with flying is one of its primary benefits. TEM involves identifying

potential threats and errors before they happen, as well as putting strategies in place to

prevent them from occurring in the first place rather than simply reacting to incidents and

accidents after they have already taken place. This is in contrast to the traditional approach of

simply reacting to incidents and accidents after they have already taken place. This

preventative strategy has the potential to lessen the incidence of mishaps and accidents,

which, in the long run, might help save lives (Wang et al., 2021). In order for TEM to be

successful, effective responses to threats and mistakes, should they exist, are also required.

This may include taking immediate action to remedy the situation, such as making an

emergency landing or diverting the aircraft in order to find a different route. It may also entail

the implementation of longer-term plans to avoid similar accidents from happening in the

future, such as upgrading processes or training programs. This may be done to prevent similar

occurrences from recurring.

The economic advantages that may be accrued by the aviation sector as a result of

successful TEM are another indication of its significance. Incidents and accidents may have
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major monetary repercussions, including the expenses connected with restoring the damage,

paying the passengers and crew, and addressing any legal and regulatory difficulties that may

arise. TEM has the potential to contribute to the reduction of the possibility of mishaps and

accidents, which in turn will assist in decreasing expenses and maintain the aviation

industry’s financial health (Cahill et al., 2021). In addition to this, efficient use of TEM has

the potential to improve the credibility and reputation of the aviation business. The public’s

opinion of an industry may be negatively impacted by incidents and accidents, which can

result in a loss of trust and confidence among consumers. The aviation sector has the

opportunity to show its dedication to safety and dependability, as well as enhance its

reputation and status in the eyes of the general public, by putting into practice efficient TEM.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are a variety of elements that may contribute to the risks posed by

human factors and the mistakes that might occur in aviation. Workload, stress, exhaustion,

communication, training and experience, corporate culture, and technology are some of the

factors that contribute to this. The aviation sector relies heavily on efficient threat and error

management in order to keep passengers and crew members safe during flights. The

identification of potential threats and errors, the implementation of strategies to prevent them

from happening, and the effective response to them if they do occur are all essential

components of an efficient threat and error management system, which is essential for

ensuring the continued security of flights. TEM helps to decrease the risks that are connected

with flying by recognizing possible threats and mistakes and adopting measures to avoid

them as well as strategies to react to them. These techniques assure the safety of passengers

as well as crew members. In addition to these advantages, it improves the reputation of the

aviation sector and delivers monetary rewards.

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References

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