Human Factors in Aviation

    Human factors in aviation have its pros and cons, as do many other aspects in aviation. Human factors in aviation is defined as the limitations and capabilities of a human in the profession of aviation, as well as the mental, emotional, and physical state of the person (FAA, 2020). These factors can have a negative impact on aviation and cause severe damage or loss of life, whether it be from a pilots perspective or a maintainers. As there is a plethora of factors to apply the definition to, it is best to describe the challenges associated to team-based activities that occur in aviation. Referring to the mental human factor in aviation in team-based activities, when working with a team of maintainers, the work load is often split up between them in order to accomplish the task more efficiently. The downside to this is that not all the maintainers will have the same mindset on the job, some will be motivated to work while others may be sluggish from fatigue or other physical human factors. This opposing mindset on the job can cause distrust between the maintainers resulting in a less efficient attitude towards the job at hand. This can cause the motivated maintainers to be overworked and then become the sluggish maintainer, which can then turn into a workplace accident hurting someone or an aircraft. 

    In order to mitigate these human factors, there are several options that have been proven to correct these mistakes made from those suffering from human limitations. Some of these being as simple as basic communication to work out the mental human factors that are causing problems (FAA, 2020). When facing a group related problem, communication is key in order to solve the problem together and come to a agreeable solution. 

References

FAA. (2020, August 10). Human factors in Aviation safety. Retrieved March 10, 2021, from https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/human_factors/