Real People Essential for Aviation Safety: 20-30% Flight Engine Failures Caused By Maintenance Errors

Introduction

The work of real people is vital in aviation. Although machines have also been employed in performing certain tasks, there are specific skills that the devices may not be able to play. As such, human factors have been significant in aviation. Flying continues to be the safest mode of transport; however, when accidents occur, they are usually fatal. According to a report by the Australian airline, 20 to 30 percent of flight engine failures occur due to maintenance errors (Sky Library, 2019). The issue of maintenance of human factors started during the First World War when more sophisticated equipment was being developed, and the inability to use is what prompted the need to assess personnel capabilities to use the systems. This statistics also agree with the data by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which indicates that maintenance errors have been on the rise. Most reports have suggested human factors contribution to maintenance errors (CAA Civil Aviation, 2019). As a result of the increase in maintenance related accidents, there are a set of social factors which could lead to a maintenance error. This paper looks at the various human factors informed by their relevance in aviation maintenance, and how they can be mitigated.

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Communication is a crucial human factor that plays a vital role in aviation maintenance. Therefore, lack of communication between the AMT and other persons such as pilots could lead to maintenance error resulting in an aircraft accident. Here, such accidents are prevalent when more than one technician is involved in maintenance because cases, where information is not adequately, exchanged results in accidents (Sky Library, 2019). Therefore, there needs to be excellent communication so that procedures can be performed as per the provided instructions. For instance, an area where communication is vital is during the shift change either in FBO or in airline operation. Technicians handing over need to fully explain to the arriving technician, the tasks that have already been performed so that the maintenance can effectively be completed. Thus, transmitted information must be clear, and in cases where information is complex, it should be written down to create the opportunity to ask questions to avoid assumptions.

Complacency develops over time, especially after completing a given task several times without ever seeing a fault. Complacency might result in a false assumption with some of the information being overlooked by the technician (Ramp Staff, 2010). Certain aspects of maintenance may be overlooked, resulting in an aircraft accident. To be able to avoid accidents resulting from complacency, approved written procedures need to be adhered to, which helps in drawing attention to a given work item, thus restoring its significance. Technicians need to maintain an optimal level of pressure, which will facilitate vigilance and stick to procedures that are provided.

Lack of knowledge when performing aircraft maintenance usually results from differences in technology between aircraft and new technologies which might result in disastrous results. The change in technology makes it a challenge to perform a given task well (Ramp Staff, 2010). Therefore, maintenance needs to be up to standard, and technicians need to use the new data and stick to provided procedures. Consultation should also be encouraged so that in situations where one is not good in a given technology, he or she can be assisted in ensuring that it is effectively accomplished to avoid any maintenance errors. Thus, errors resulting from a lack of knowledge can be mitigated through teamwork and ensuring that procedures are followed.

Distractions make the technicians skip a part of the procedure which causes maintenance errors, which eventually results in accidents. According to a report by the Australian airline, about 15 percent of maintenance errors result from distractions. Distractions take many forms, but they are usually anything that shifts the mind of the technicians from the work that is being performed (Ramp Staff, 2010). To be able to mitigate these risks, the technician needs to be in control of any task at hand so that even when distracted, then they can ensure that the work continues safely. Work need to follow step by step procedure and only be signed after completion so that technician performing the job or any other technician handed over the job can effectively accomplish the job to avoid any errors that could result in accidents.

Lack of teamwork in aviation maintenance has also been a major contributor to maintenance errors. Teamwork ranges from sharing information between technicians, coordination of maintenance functions, among others (Ramp Staff, 2010). For instance, a gear swing involves the efforts of members of a team working together, and as such, everyone should understand and agree on any actions that might be taken (Sky Library, 2019). They need to communicate among one another so that they can avoid any faults in the course of maintenance. Lack of teamwork often results in poor communication hence affecting the worthiness of the aircraft maintenance. Aviation involves teamwork, and therefore, a team's effectiveness can be improved through selection of members with a range of skills so that teamwork can be enhanced and tasks effectively accomplished.

Fatigue takes different forms and affects mental and physical performance. It might affect a person's decision making capability, reaction time, and balance, among other factors. Thus, it reduces the focus on the tasks that are performed (Ramp Staff, 2010). Checking out for symptoms of fatigue is the best way of reducing the effects of fatigue. Although regulations have been set, such as the title 14 of the code of federal regulations part 21 section 377, it's usually not sufficient (Sky Library, 2019). Therefore, aviation companies need to have their schedule that can allow technicians enough resting time. These calls for proper coordination because fleets are maintained both at night and day time. Creating a proper plan during the shifts enables the technicians to rest to avoid the effects of fatigue.

Lack of resources limits the ability to perform tasks efficiently because there is lack of support. Maintenance of fleet requires resources, and thus, lack of resources or inadequate quality resources can result in accidents (Sky Library, 2019). Personnel mandated with ensuring that quality resources need to maintain the supply of parts so that the parts are availed before they are required. Parts repaired also need to be compatible. Availing resources will ensure that tasks are effectively accomplished. There is a need for planning so that resources are availed on time, and technicians are also made aware of the resources that are needed.

Stress is an issue that most aviation companies have had to handle to overcome aircraft accidents. For the airlines to continue operating normally, then maintenance needs to be constantly done, which requires that technicians are conversant with the changing technologies. This includes other factors such as lack of resources and long working hours (Sky Library, 2019). Stress also extends aviation management because they have to ensure that work is done effectively to avoid accidents. All these factors including fatigue and lack of resource are the source of stressors, and as such, measures need to be taken to ensure that any issues that might affect the technicians causing the factors that might result in accidents are avoided including the creation of a suitable work environment (Ramp Staff, 2010). Early signs of stress need to be observed so that they can be controlled before they become detrimental leading to accidents. This should be enhanced through the creation of channels of communication to help address any emergent issues that might be causing stress.

Aviation maintenance makes individuals work in environments with content pressure because they are required to do things faster without making mistakes. Although it is necessary, they often affect how technicians perform their tasks, thus leading to maintenance errors (Sky Library, 2019). Companies should need to reduce factors that might result in pressure, and the self-induced pressured should be addressed by allowing technicians to speak up about the issue that they cannot feel they can perform in time (Ramp Staff, 2010). Thus, technicians need to be assertive to ensure that issues that are affecting them are known to the management for them to be timely addressed. The aviation management needs to deal with an issue at a time. This will ensure that all issues that might affect effective operations are discussed. This will also help in avoiding problems such as lack of awareness, which is also caused by stress.

How tasks are conducted is usually adopted over time, which occurs through experience and traditionally influenced by the organizational culture. This practice is what contributes to the organization's norms (Sky Library, 2019). Commonly, such practices usually do not follow the rules, and as such, might resulting in maintenance errors because they might be adopted for certain circumstance without being checked for the potential threats. To avoid norms that can lead to aviation accidents, rules should be enforced by ensuring that they are strictly followed. This also calls for assertiveness so that workers can air their views on unsafe norms against any odds that might be present in the workplace.

Conclusion

In conclusion, human factors play a significant role in aviation maintenance judged from how they might contribute to maintenance errors and consequently, aviation accidents. Most of the human elements are interrelated; for instance, stress might result in pressure, which might also be due to of lack of assertiveness. Therefore, human factors might be caused by an issue within aviation companies or can be self-induced. As such, the formulation of ways to address the human factors needs that all factors that are discussed to avoid the maintenance errors resulting from human errors.

References

Sky Library (2019). Retrieved from http://www.skybrary.aero/bookshelf/books/3163.pdf

UK CAA Civil Aviation Publication 715 (2019) - An Introduction to Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Human Factors for JAR 66

Ramp Staff (2010), "A Comparative Study of the Perceptions. "Aircraft Ground Handling and Human Factors."