Resource Management on the Flight Deck Proceedings of a NASA/Industry Workshop Held at San Francisco, California June 26-28, 1979

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19800013796 2020-03-21T18:06:20+00:00Z NASA Conference Publication 2120 Resource Management on the Flight Deck Proceedings of a NASA/Industry Workshop Held at San Francisco, California June 26-28, 1979 March 1980 National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Conference Publication 2120 Resource ent on the Flight Deck Proceedings of a NASAAndustry Workshop Held at San Francisco, California June 26-28, 1979 Edited by George E. Cooper Maurice D. White, G. E. Cooper Associates, Saratoga, California John I<. Lauber, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California National Aeronautics and Space Administration Ames Research Center Moffett Field, California 94035 PREFACE The fostering of increased awareness and use of available resources by aircrews under high workload conditions is becoming a matter of greater concern to the airlines. New research and training programs to enhance aircrew capabilities are being developed , largely independently, by the various organizations involved. The timing appeared appropriate for an exchange of ideas and information to facilitate these activities, and, accordingly, a NASA-Industry Workshop devoted to Resource Management on the Flight Deck was organized by G. E. Cooper Associates for the Aviation Safety Research Office of Ames Research Center. The Workshop was held at the Jack Tar Hotel in San Francisco, California, June 26-28, 1979. Participants included senior officers of major airlines who are responsible for aircrew training; representatives of cognizant government agencies; and specialists in human factors work as it applies to aircrew operations. This report presents the proceedings of the Workshop. In some cases the papers are taken from a verbatim transcript of the proceedings; in other cases, they represent formal submittals. John K. Lauber, Ames Research Center, NASA, and Capt. A. A. Frink, Pan American World Airlines, were cochairmen of the Workshop. The Workshop comprised four sessions: Session 1. Formal presentations by nonindustry representatives on the background and human factors aspects of the problem. Session 2. Formal presentations by airline representatives describing current industry approaches to training for resource management. Session 3. Small-group discussions and analyses by participants, aimed at developing conclusions and recommendations for effective resource management training. Results were reported to assembled participants by chairmen of the individual groups. A general discussion of working group reports is included. Session 4. Summary of the Workshop. iii ' CONTENTS Page PREFACE .............................................................. iii SESSION 1. BACKGROUND AND HUMAN FACTORS ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM....... 1 Resource Management on the Flight Deck: Background and Statement of the Problem John K. Lauber ............!....... ............................ 3 Social Psychology on the Flight Deck Robert L. Helmreich..................... ...................... 17 Aviation Accidents and the "Theory of the Situation" Lee Bolman.................................................... 31 SESSION 2. CURRENT INDUSTRY APPROACHES TO RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRAINING.......................................................... 59 Flight Crew Selection at United Airlines Capt. William Traub........................................... 61 British Airways' Pre-Command Training Program Capt. L. F. J. Holdstock. ..................................... 76 Upgrade and Interpersonal Skills Training at American Airlines Capt. W. W. Estridge and J. L. Mansfield...................... 87 Captains' Training at Swissair Capt. N. Grob................................................. 97 Line-Oriented Flight Training Capt. Berton E. Beach......................................... 107 Flight Manager and Check-Airman Training Capt. J. E. Carroll........................................... 119 Left Seat Command and/or Leadership? Flight Leadership Training and Research at North Central Airlines Capt. Gramer C. Foster and Michael C. Garvey..... ............. 133 SESSION 3. THE WHAT, WHEN, AND HOW OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TRAINING - NASA/INDUSTRY WORKING GROUP MEETINGS.................. 147 INTRODUCTION Capt. A. A. Frink, Chairman................................... 149 V CONTENTS (Concluded) Page GROUP REPORTS (in order of presentation) Group 5 . Recurrent Training and Line Operation Capt . Ron Sessa ..................................... 152 Group 1. Selection and Initial Training - Capt. R . E . Cwmp ................................... 156 Group 2 . Recurrent Training and Line Operation R . C . Houston ....................................... 161 Group 3 . Transition and Upgrade Training Capt . L . F . J . Holdstock. ........................... 165 Group 4. Selection and Initial Training Capt . Berton Beach .................................. 169 Group 6 . Transition and Upgrade Training Lawson White ........................................ 173 PANEL DISCUSSION .................................................. 178 SESSION 4 . CONCLUDING REMARKS ........................................ 193 SWRY OF THE WORKSHOP Charles E . Billings ........................................... 194 CLOSING REMARKS Capt . A . A . Frink ............................................ 203 APPENDIX A . WORKSHOP PARTTCIPANTS .................................... 205 APPENDIX B . SUPPLEMENTARY WQRKING PAPERS ............................. 207 Initial Upgrading from Copilot to Captain Capt . G . GrUnewald ............................................ 209 Training .Economic and Safety Considerations Capt . R . E. Norman. Jr ........................................ 221 Calculated Risk or Blind Assumption? Gerard M. Bruggink ............................................ 227 Managing Emergencies in Jet TranspQrt Operations Gerard M. Bruggink ............................................ 233 APPENDIX C . INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKING GROUPS .......................... 245 SESSION 1 BACKGROUND AND HUMAN FACTORS ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM John K. Lauber, Chairman Resource Management on the Flight Deck: Background and Statement of the Problem John K. Lauber, Ames Research Center, NASA Social Psychology on the Flight Deck Robert L. Helmreich, University of Texas Aviation Accidents and the "Theory of the Situation" Lee Bolman, Harvard University 1 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ON THE FLIGHT DECK: BACKGROUND AND STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM * John K. Lauber INTRODUCTION The thesis presented in this paper is straightforward: one of the principal causes of incidents and accidents in civil jet transport operations is the lack of effective management of available resources by the flight-deck crew. It is further argued that present aircrew training programs could be augmented to improve flight-deck management. The purpose of this paper is to discuss previous research and other data that lead to these conclusions, and to present some concepts that help to define the problem and to suggest some possible approaches toward its solution. THE PILOT INTERVIEW STUDY The present human-factors-in-aviation-safety research program at Ames Research Center was begun in 1973. In an effort to identify the most relevant and pressing research issues, and to learn more about the human factors problems encountered during routine line operations, NASA conducted structured, confidential interviews with airline crewmembers. This interview problem, which was conducted with the full cooperation of management and union representatives, resulted in a number of interesting issues being brought to the attention of the NASA research team. Of most direct interest here were issues related to crew training and, specifically, training for new captains. Generally, those pilots who mentioned training during the interviews expressed satisfaction with the training they receive in the technical aspects of flying and in flying skills. The difficulty related more to issues such as how to be a more effective leader, and how to achieve more effective crew coordination and improved communication within the cockpit. One new captain stated the problem as follows: "My company trains pilots very well, but not captains - command training is needed." A flight engineer felt strongly that "Pilots, particularly captains, ought to be given specific training in human behavior and human relationships. ..there is too much emphasis on the technical side of flying, and too little upon these 'softer' issues." Many other comments were received that pointed to a general feeling among flight crewmembers that there is a need for training in areas other than manual control and systems operations. "Ames Research Center, NASA, Mof f et t Field , California . 3 FULL-MISSION SIMULATION STUDY The next major stimulus for conducting the resource management training research came from a full-mission simulation study conducted by Ruffell Smith and colleagues (ref. 1). That study, which made use of a B-747 training simulator, analyzed the frequency and kinds of errors committed by qualified line crews during a simulated routine line trip segment, and during a segment in which a mechanical problem was introduced that necessitated an engine shutdown and a diversion from the original flight plan. All normal communica- tions were simulated, as well as other factors that are known to be dis- tracting, but not inherently dangerous. For example, during the more difficult second segment, a cabin attendant frequently called the cockpit via the crew interphone to make various requests or ask questions of the flight crew.

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