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