Human Factors Challenges in Aviation Maintenance

1992 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-86 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Broad Spectrum ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Aircraft Maintenance ◽  
Vice Presidents ◽  
Aviation Medicine ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
The Past ◽  
Air Carrier ◽  
Maintenance And Inspection

The FAA Office of Aviation Medicine has been conducting a research program for the past two years dealing with human factors issues in aircraft maintenance and inspection. As part of this program a series of workshops have been held with participation of a broad spectrum of air carrier industry representatives. These representatives, ranging from hanger floor technicians to vice - presidents, have identified a series of issues or challenges which present their most formidable human factors problems. The FAA research program has been designed to address these challenges. This paper describes five of these challenges and offers guidance on methods for dealing with them.

Providing Useful Human Factors Guidance to Aviation Maintenance Practitioners

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-70
Author(s):  
Michael E. Maddox
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Consistent Finding ◽  
Aviation Medicine ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
General Evaluation ◽  
Maintenance And Inspection ◽  
First Time ◽  
Human Factors Research

The Aloha Airlines B-737 accident in 1989 prompted a general evaluation of aviation maintenance and inspection practices. A consistent finding from the Aloha analyses was that human-factors-related issues played a significant role in the accident. In the intervening period, the FAA Office of Aviation Medicine (AAM) has sponsored a wideranging, applied human factors research program. The Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance (the Guide) is the primary vehicle for channeling the results of the AAM's research program into the aviation user community. This paper describes the development process of the Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance. We include a discussion of how the existing base of research results has been made accessible and, more importantly, usable to aviation maintenance supervisors and inspectors. We also describe the considerations related to widely disseminating the information and guidance contained in the Guide. We believe this to be the first time that detailed human factors guidance from such a broad topical range has been tailored to a particular, applied, user domain.

Tools for Human Performance Enhancement in Aviation Maintenance

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-60
Author(s):  
William B. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Cd Rom ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
Multi Media ◽  
Maintenance And Inspection ◽  
The Right

Human Factors and ergonomics professionals are often asked to “show” how their research has affected on-the-job human performance. They are asked to show measurable changes in human effectiveness and efficiency at work. There is always the demand for HF&E researchers to create procedures and tools that can guide non-human factors personnel to make the “right” human-centered decisions. This symposium will show and distribute such tools that have been designed and tested in an aviation maintenance environment. For over six years now, the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Aviation Medicine has conducted an extensive research program centered on human factors in aviation maintenance and inspection. The research program has earned a reputation of demonstrating a “hands-on” understanding of aviation maintenance and maintaining a close working relationship with all segments of the industry. The symposium will begin with an overview of FAA-sponsored research results applied to aviation maintenance and safety over the past six years. In the second paper the Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance, completed in 1995, will be described. The third presentation will demonstrate a CD-ROM version of the Guide. The presentation shall also discuss human-computer interface issues pertinent to developing interactive multi-media information systems. The final presentation will show a multi-media software package to conduct ergonomics audits in a variety of industrial environments. The system has evolved from three years of ergonomics audit research in aviation maintenance workplaces. Each of the session presentations will demonstrate and distribute HF&E tools to session attendees.

Human Factors and Ergonomics in Maintenance and Inspection Symposium Abstract

1994 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-100
Author(s):  
William T. Shepherd
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Research Priorities ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
National Plan ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
Human Factors And Ergonomics ◽  
Symposium Abstract ◽  
The World ◽  
Maintenance And Inspection

In 1991 the National Plan for Aviation Human Factors was published. The plan proposed a variety of research priorities for the nation's aviation industry and government entities. The FAA Office of Aviation Medicine has been conducting a research program to address the Aviation Maintenance topics identified as significant in the National Plan. The resultant research program has been recognized as the most significant maintenance-oriented human factors study in the world.

Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance and Inspection: Research Responding to Safety Demands of Industry

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
William T. Shepherd ◽  
William B. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Human Performance ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Working Relationship ◽  
Aviation Medicine ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
Pragmatic Research ◽  
Scientific Principles ◽  
Maintenance And Inspection

For over five years the Federal Aviation Administration has conducted extensive research and development to enhance human performance and safety in aircraft maintenance and inspection. Directed by the Office of Aviation Medicine(AAM) the program has engaged in pragmatic research capitalizing on basic scientific principles and a thorough working relationship with all levels of aviation maintenance practitioners. This paper describes a few of the example research products that are currently promoting safety and efficiency in maintenance applications worldwide.

Human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance: a review

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 478-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Shanmugam ◽  
T. Paul Robert
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Human Factor ◽  
Aircraft Design ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Aviation Industry ◽  
Physical Aspect ◽  
Aircraft Maintenance ◽  
Human Factors Engineering ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Aviation Maintenance

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a literature review on human factors in aircraft maintenance and to analyze and synthesize the findings in the literature on human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance. Design/methodology/approach – The review adopts a threefold approach: searching and collecting the scientific literature; sorting them on the basis of relevance and applications; and review of the scientific evidences. Broad areas of aircraft maintenance regulations are identified and each area was explored to study the level of scientific growth and publications. Notable theories, models and concepts are being summarized. Findings – Application of human factor principles in aviation spread beyond the technical arena of man-machine interface. The discipline has created a great impact on aircraft design, operations and maintenance. Its applications have percolated into design of aircraft maintenance facilities, task cards and equipment. Human factor concepts are being used for maintenance resource management. The principles are applied to shape the safety behavior and culture in aviation maintenance workplace. Nevertheless, the review unfolds immense potential for future research. Research limitations/implications – Research outcomes of non-aviation studies are also reviewed and consolidated to extend the applications to the aviation industry. Practical implications – This review would be a consolidated source of information confining to the physical aspect of human factors engineering in aircraft maintenance. It is intended to serve as a quick reference guide to the researchers and maintenance practitioners. Social implications – It brought out the benefits of adopting the principles of human factor engineering in aircraft maintenance. Application of human factor philosophy ensures enhanced safety in air transport, personal safety and well-being of maintenance personnel. Originality/value – This is a unique review based on aircraft maintenance regulations that are baseline performance standards made mandatory by regulatory authorities. Therefore, the review has been considered to be made on aircraft maintenance regulatory requirements that surpass corporate or competitive strategies in aviation maintenance organization.

A Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance

1993 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
James F. Parker
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Job Design ◽  
User Preferences ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
Air Carrier ◽  
Safety Considerations ◽  
Maintenance Personnel ◽  
Economic Considerations ◽  
Selection Of

Safety considerations require that air carrier maintenance be of the highest quality and essentially error-free. Economic considerations require that maintenance activities be as efficient as possible. Success in meeting both safety and economic goals depends on the performance of those working in the aviation maintenance community. A human factors guide can be of value in supporting and enhancing the performance of aviation maintenance personnel. One end product of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program on “Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance” is a guidebook presenting human factors information oriented specifically toward the air carrier maintenance workforce. The Human Factors Guide presents established principles of job design and work. Coverage is broad and includes a variety of topics considered important in determining maintenance effectiveness and in the control of maintenance error. The preparation of the Human Factors Guide was done in a manner to ensure that needs of users were addressed. Size and format were selected in terms of user preferences. Information obtained through a series of FAA-sponsored human factors meetings plus that gained from a survey of maintenance personnel guided both the selection of topics and the presentation of materials.

Electronic Ergonomic Audit System for Maintenance and Inspection

1995 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gopinath Meghashyam
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
User Interface ◽  
Human Factors ◽  
Performance Enhancement ◽  
Federal Aviation Administration ◽  
Inference Engine ◽  
Reference Database ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
Scientific Corporation ◽  
Maintenance And Inspection

This paper describes an ergonomic auditing software system, one of the tools used for performance enhancement of aircraft inspectors. This tool was developed at Galaxy Scientific Corporation, in cooperation with the State University of New York at Buffalo, for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The purpose of the development task was to integrate a variety of ergonomic audit tools into a comprehensive package. This ergonomic auditing system called “ERgoNomic Assessment Program” (or ERNAP), carries out an ergonomic evaluation for maintenance and inspection operations. ERNAP can also be used to help designers build ergonomically efficient procedures and systems. ERNAP evaluates existing/proposed tasks and setups in the application of human factors/ergonomic principles, and suggests ergonomic interventions. The package consists of a user interface, an inference engine, a printing module, and a reference database. The user interface supports user learning, helps guide the user through the steps, describes the less familiar ergonomic principles, allows the user to access on-line help, and is simple to use. The inference engine evaluates the user inputs based on the reference database and different models of analysis. This package maintains consistency with the Human Factors Guide for Aviation Maintenance which is reported within this session.

Human Factors Issues in Aircraft Maintenance

1988 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-161
Author(s):  
Anthony E. Majoros
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Time Pressure ◽  
Work Setting ◽  
Aircraft Maintenance ◽  
Research Issues ◽  
Aviation Maintenance ◽  
Aircraft Systems ◽  
The People ◽  
Military Aviation

Aircraft present significant challanges to the people who maintain them. Time pressure, the complexity of aircraft systems, the need to adhere to minute detail, and cramped working spaces generally interact to create a difficult work setting. Due to the cognitive, biodynamic, and endurance demands of this work, human capacities and limitations are important variables in civil and military aviation maintenance. The critical nature of these variables is indicated in a variety of emerging research issues.

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