The Role of Aviation Maintenance Management in Improving Aircraft Safety and Efficiency

The Role of Aviation Maintenance Management in Improving Aircraft Safety and Efficiency

There is documentation that proves that human error is a key contributor in many of the hull-loss accidents caused by commercial airplanes. Human error tends to be associated with flight operations, but currently it has become of major concern in matters concerning aviation management as well as other maintenance practices. In this, human factors such as professionals in the aviation industry need to work together with mechanics, pilots and engineers. They are in turn able to use their knowledge concerning the interface that exists between airplanes and human performance in order to assist operators in improving efficiency and safety during daily operations.

Human factors is a term that has gained popularity especially in the aviation industry that is commercial. It has been realized that the issue on human error as opposed to mechanical failure causes many aviation incidents and accidents. Human factors are closely associated with maintenance resource management and crew resource management. Therefore, human factors refer to the process of collecting information concerning human limitations and abilities. Also, it helps in gathering human characteristics, which will later on be applied to environments, jobs, tasks, systems, machine and tools in order to come up with environments that are effective, comfortable and safe for human use. In the aviation industry, the human factors help in understanding the manner in which human beings can efficiently and safely be integrated together with technology. Later on, this translates into procedures, policies, training and design that will improve the performance of human beings (Sals & Jentsch & Maurin, 2010).

Crew resource management or flight deck is a term commonly used in the aviation industry. This term refers to the utilization and management of all the information, equipment and people that are available to any aircraft. Also, it can be used in a workplace where the individuals engage in highly skilled activities and they work in an environment that is fostered by technology. In an analysis carried out by the civil aviation safety, it was found out that 80 percent of all accidents that occur in aviation are caused by various human factors. Air traffic controllers, technical staff and flight crew are involved in the process of ensuring that safety is maintained at all times. They are aware of the fact that aviation accidents especially those involving airplanes are extremely dangerous. The flight resource management is a special and unique form of system management. Most times accidents take place because the available resources tend not to be managed in the most appropriate manner as this tends to be the job of the aircraft commander. Also, sufficient resources tend to be available and because they are not utilized efficiently, accidents occur.

The CRM system seeks to improve the efficiency and safety of aircrafts through proper usage of information resources and the technical and human resources. It seeks to improve the communication between the crew and other staff members. In order to ensure that the staff does not commit any errors, the human resources needs to select individuals based upon their academic and professional qualifications. Thereafter, the individual should be trained in order to know about the accepted behavior that will reduce problems from occurring. Secondly, suitable methods for compensating individuals who commit errors has to exist. This means that in order for the crew to be reliable they should follow the laid down procedures so as to gain a sense of cooperation. Thirdly, the organization needs to ensure that its role to prevent errors is known. This will act as a remedy in case any staff member wants to commit an error (Sals & Jentsch & Maurin, 2010).

The aviation industry has experienced a lot of gains with regards to technology, but humans are the ones that have the ultimate responsibility when ensuring safety and success. People need to have the required knowledge as well as being efficient, dedicated and flexible in order to exercise judgment that is good. The industry has seen many key investments in systems, equipment and training, which will have implications in the long-term. Technology is evolving quite fast than compared to the ability that humans have when interacting with technology. It means that the aviation industry cannot continue to depend a lot on intuition and experience in order to guide decisions associated with human performance.

Technology has assis.............