Future of Human Factors in Aviation - Research Proposal Example

ASCI 490 Aeronautical Science Capstone Individual Project (Proposal) of ASCI 490 Aeronautical Science Capstone Course (Proposal) Submitted to in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics Future of Human Factors in Aviation Abstract The purpose of this research is to identify the major technological developments taking place in order to minimize human factors in safety risks in the aviation industry. The scope of the research encompasses all the developments in flight deck design, flight support systems and error reporting systems that will help to reduce stress and fatigue so that professionals can exercise their best judgment at all times. The research will be carried out by a qualitative study of secondary sources of information including online and print sources. Books, industry reports and research articles will be consulted for data to be used for the research. Research Proposal Statement of Project The project is aimed to determine the steps taken by the aviation industry to reduce safety risks caused due to human factors. Human factors such as stress and fatigue can interfere with the skill of the aircraft crew as they manage the technology and equipment (Foyle and Hooey, 2008). These safety risks are controlled at times but in a number of cases they can be serious and even fatal. This paper will focus on the technological developments that have been made in the aviation industry to improve pilot performance and efficiency by reducing stress and fatigue levels. This project will discuss the specific areas which are receiving attention from the aviation industry. It will highlight the aspects of human performance which are being addressed by the technology developments and will present a general direction on the future of human risk control in the industry. Project Outcomes Addressed Critical thinking Critical thinking is an important skill that enables researchers to test data intellectually. Among other things, critical thinking involves questioning the data and the underlying assumptions to come closer to the truth (Lau, 2011). It helps in the process of creating knowledge by differentiating valid from invalid data. One of the ways in which knowledge is created is through synthesis of data and facts. During the course of this project, critical thinking will be applied to the data obtained from a number of secondary sources. Information from reports about aviation technology companies and scholarly research will be critically evaluated to identify key technological developments. The information will be synthesised by identifying common features in order to arrive at a general direction of the technology. Quantitative Reasoning The secondary sources used in the project would also contain results of studies and a quantitative analysis of those results. Quantitative reasoning involves using quantitative data in order to extract meaningful conclusions from them. Mathematical and statistical tools such as correlation and determination of statistical error are common methods used to analyze and interpret numerical data. For the present project, the emphasis will be on secondary data as opposed to primary data. Hence, the quantitative reasoning will be based on numerical data generated by studies published in online reports and research publications. The quantitative findings presented in the secondary data will be interpreted according to the statistical methods and will be used to support or reject the arguments and critical analysis. Information Literacy Information literacy is a skill inalienable from a conscientious researcher. It involves gathering information from primary and secondary sources so that they can be documented in the research. Information literacy also includes referencing skills which help to identify the source of data used to shape the research. It is important to know the resources from which relevant data can be obtained which includes both print and online resources. Information literacy will be demonstrated in this project as the researcher will consult a variety of print and online resources such as industry reports, books and research journals. Use will be made of the EBSCO journal database and the APA referencing style will be employed to identify the source of quoted as well as paraphrased data used in the report. Communication Communication is one of the most important skills for any researcher. It is not just sufficient to accumulate knowledge and arguments unless they can be conveyed to the intended audience clearly and accurately. Effective communication in research writing involves the ability to convey information using diverse media and channels, in particular electronic and online channels. The researcher may be required to present data in written, electronic as well as oral forms. While presenting technical information, it is important to ensure that jargon does not overpower the meaning of the information for readers with non-technical backgrounds. In this research project, high standards of communication will be maintained by considering the information needs and background knowledge of the intended audience. Information will be provided in a direct, clear and efficient way using visual devices to highlight important information. Scientific Literacy Scientific literacy involves the ability to interpret scientific information and place it in the context of the physical world as this helps to evaluate the practical utility of any scientific research. In the aviation industry, for example, the evidence about technological developments should be evaluated in the light of several real-world implications such as the cost of implementing new technology compared to the benefits. Similarly, the costs of training professionals and managing the transition between technologies should be factored into the evaluation of results of scientific studies. In this project, the various technologies will be analyzed with respect to their practicality. Furthermore, the human impact of the developments and their effectiveness in reducing safety risks attributed to human factors will be emphasized in this study. Cultural Literacy Cultural literacy is an essential attribute of the researcher. Cultural literacy enables the researcher to include the cultural and human factors in the interpretation of research data. In the aviation industry, the cultural literacy cannot be limited to particular national cultures. As aviation professionals receive training of a similar standard, familiarity with those cultural aspects is essential for the required level of cultural literacy. This research will interpret the research findings in the light of the professional practices and habits of the aviation professionals. Issues such as night shifts, long haul flights and level of training will be incorporated into the discussion. To some extent, linguistic differences may be considered as they influence the professionals’ reading and communication skills in a multicultural environment. Lifelong personal growth An effective researcher assumes responsibility for independent personal learning without seeking the support of others. This, however, does not imply that the researcher miss out on opportunities for collaborative learning. Rather, the motivation and responsibility for lifelong learning should be directed from within. The research process will be undertaken with a view to improving the critical thinking and analytical skills of the researcher during the course of searching and interpreting information. Lifelong personal growth leads to a continuous enhancement in the quality of life. While the topic chosen for the research project holds great significance for the quality and safety of aviation crew and passengers, the research process itself is perceived as a learning experience that equips the researcher with essential intellectual skills. Aeronautical science Aeronautical science is the study of methods by which aeronautical flights can be made safer and more efficient. This paper will discuss the aspects of aeronautical science that contribute to its safety. Hence, this paper will make a useful contribution to aeronautical science because it will discuss the most recent technological developments in the field. It will identify technologies that are being developed to make flights safer by reducing the chances of human error. The proposed study is focused on the human aspects of aeronautical science and studies those factors which contribute to human error and need to be controlled. The paper will discuss how the recent technological developments can be applied in practice and contribute to the development and advancement of the field of aeronautical science. Aviation legislation and law The aviation industry is a global industry and has in fact contributed to the globalization of the world to a great extent. As a result of its global nature, national as well as international legislation impacts on the way the industry grows and responds to major challenges. Regulations about aircraft safety, training requirements and technical standards are developed internationally while each country has its own set of aviation rules and regulations. This research project will shed light on the relevant laws and legislation as it impacts on the mitigation of safety risks through technology. Aviation safety Aviation safety is the main area of study for this research project and the research will cover those aspects of aviation safety that are affected by human factors. The main concepts of aviation safety include safety culture initiatives, equipment for aviation safety, a safety culture framework, benchmarking and best practices, hazard identification and operational risk assessment. Crew risk management (CRM) prepares crew members for most common errors and threats (Stolzer, Halford, and Goglia, 2010). Other aspects of aviation safety are also considered where relevant. This research will explain the issues in aviation and aerospace safety from the technological perspective with regard to developments being made in increasing pilot performance and efficiency. The information obtained from secondary sources will be presented in the form of a written report. The findings about safety technology will be discussed and their implications for mitigating safety risk levels in the aviation industry will be highlighted. Aviation management and operations While this report focuses on safety risks caused by human factors, the paper will consider aspects of aviation management and operations. Aviation operations management demands great precision and accuracy as thousands of people have to be managed at the same time. The 24/7 nature of the aviations operations mean that transitions of personnel and knowledge across shifts should be smooth and efficient (Salas and Maurino, 2010). The discussion in this project will include aspects of technology that can help to make aviation operations management safer and less susceptible to human factors. Over the long run, it is expected that technological developments will help to enhance the efficiency of operations directly through better monitoring and control of processes as well as indirectly through its impact on safety risks. Project Title: Future of Human Factors in Aviation Proposal Summary Human error is one of the most important causes of aviation hazards and risks. Therefore, it is important to take steps to minimize the likelihood of such errors. In fact, human error even surpasses mechanical or technical errors in being one of the leading causes of aviation emergencies. Despite the latest and most sophisticated technical equipment, the necessity of human involvement in controlling and handling the equipment prevents the likelihood of human error from being removed altogether. Therefore, steps must be taken to minimize the chances of human error as much as possible. Human involvement takes the form of using tools, equipment and machines to perform various tasks and jobs in the aviation industry (Flouris and Yilmaz, 2011). This includes flight operations as well as ground operations. The efficiency of human performance depends on various factors such as task and system design, the quality of training, human resource policies, and organizational policies and procedures. Aviation industry professionals are expected to manage all technical equipment skilfully and apply their best judgment in highly stressful situations. In order to reduce the likelihood of stress and fatigue due to long working hours and confined working spaces, technology is invoked to design ergonomic equipment and user-friendly computer interfaces. Various aspects in which technology is used include flight deck design, the quality of in-service support and error management tools. These and other technologies will be discussed in the proposed research project. References Foyle, D. C., and Hooey, B. L., (2008). Human Performance Modeling in Aviation. Taylor & Francis. Flouris, T. G., and Yilmaz, A. K., (2011). Risk Management and Corporate Sustainability in Aviation. Ashgate Publishing. Lau, J. Y. F., (2011). An Introduction to Critical Thinking and Creativity. John Wiley and Sons. Salas, E., and Maurino, D., (2010). Human Factors in Aviation. Academic Press. Stolzer, A. J., Halford, C. D., and Goglia, J. J., (2010). Safety Management Systems in Aviation. Ashgate Publishing. Read More