Crew Resource Management
Crew (or Cockpit) Resource Management (CRM) training originated from a NASA workshop in 1979 that focused on improving air safety. The NASA research presented at this meeting found that the primary cause of the majority of aviation accidents was human error, and that the main problems were failures of interpersonal communication, leadership, and decision making in the cockpit.
CRM can be defined as a management system which makes optimum use of all available resources, equipment, procedures and people to promote safety and enhance the efficiency of flight operations.
CRM training encompasses a wide range of knowledge, skills and attitudes including communications, situational awareness, problem solving, decision making, and teamwork.
Cockpit voice recordings of various air disasters tragically reveal first officers and flight engineers attempting to bring critical information to the captain's attention in an indirect and ineffective way. By the time the captain understood what was being said, it was too late to avert the disaster. (Unfortunately there are not many CRM mishap examples from small airplanes mainly due to the lack of Cockpit Voice Recorders. So we have to study what we have and apply it to our operation)
Barriers to CRM and Effective Communication External factors that inhibit interpersonal communication Rank, Age, gender, organizational culture, and inadequate SOP s Internal factors that inhibit interpersonal communication speaking skills, listening skills, decision making skills, conflict resolution techniques, and the use of appropriate assertiveness
Communication Briefings CRM Principles Being assertive in the cockpit Debriefing Conflict Resolution Decision Making
Establishing positive CRM Briefings (Done by the captain, mandated by the FAA) Done first flight of the day or first flight with the crewmember Address safety, security, and emergency procedures, SOP and deviations from SOP interactive and emphasize the importance of questions, critique, and the offering of information. establish a team concept or open cockpit communication (use we language to encourage help with the flight)
SIX Steps to be assertive in the cockpit SIX Steps to be assertive in the cockpit Opening or attention getter - Address the individual. "Hey Chief," or "Captain Smith," or "Bob!" State your concern - State what you see in a direct manner, "We're low on fuel or DO YOU SEE THAT TOWER! State the problem as you see it - "I don't think we have enough fuel to get to Tulsa or I THINK WE MIGHT HIT THAT TOWER! State a solution - "Let's divert to Fort Smith and refuel or TURN LEFT! Obtain agreement (or buy-in) - "Does that sound good to you, Captain?" Speak up until there is a clear resolution
Debriefing: Crew members self critique regarding decisions and actions (this is the most important and the least used part of good CRM) (1) Critique occurs at appropriate times, which may be times of low or high workload. (2) Critique deals with positive as well as negative aspects of crew performance. (3) Critique involves the whole crew interactively. (4) Critique makes a positive learning experience. Feedback is specific, objective, usable, and constructively given. (5) Critique is accepted objectively and non-defensively
Conflict Resolution The cockpit of an aircraft is no place for a long debate nor is it a democracy. Steps can and should be taken in order to resolve differences Ensure all underlying causes for the difference of opinion are identified. Ask the question is this a safety question or is there other factors that you are considering? Maybe the Captain wants to get home early or is this the overbearing Captain that doesn t like to be disagreed with.
Conflict Resolution (continued) Focus on what is right not who is right. If you can depersonalize an issue it becomes easier to identify the solution. If you are able to decouple your personal agendas or attitudes the solution will be easier. Realize that there may be a clash of thinking styles The key to diffusing the situation is to be patient and tolerant of another persons thinking style
Conflict Resolution (Continued) Think "we," rather than "I versus you" working together helps solve conflicts. Try to keep in mind the long term goal of accident or incident free operation. Good conflict resolution will improve CRM. Good conflict resolution benefits both parties.
Decision Making Safe and efficient decisions are the goal Stay Flexible and adapt to new information as it arrives Get input from all involved Make sure bottom lines for safety are communicated Share the big picture, make sure everyone is informed and on the same page. Make an effort to keep the communication open to everyone for more input
Single Pilot Resource Management (SRM) Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM) is an adaptation of Crew Resource Management (CRM) training to single-pilot operations. The purpose of SRM is to reduce the number of aviation accidents caused by human error by teaching pilots about their own human limitations and how to maximize their performance.
SRM GA (General Aviation) is often regarded as a lesser component of the aviation industry, this perception is incorrect. In the United States GA accounts for 96% of aircraft, 60% of flight hours, and 94% of fatal aviation accidents. Airline and military aviation, estimates of the number of accidents caused by pilot error range from 70-80%.
SRM The National Transportation Safety Board revealed that 97% of accidents in General Aviation were caused by pilot error. This is the statistic that SRM seeks to reduce.
SINGLE PILOT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Aeronautical Decision making Situational awareness Workload management Resource management Risk management Task Management Automation Management
1. Plan 2. Plane 3. Pilot 4. Passengers 5. Programming SRM strategy The 5 P check
The 5 P s The five P s are used at critical points along the flight. Preflight, pre-takeoff, mid point or hourly, pre-descent and just prior to entering the traffic pattern.
The Plan The Plan can also be called the mission or the task, contains the basic elements of cross country planning, weather, route, fuel, publications currency, etc. The plan is always being updated and modified and is especially responsive to changes in the other four remaining P s. If for no other reason, the 5P check reminds the pilot that the day s flight plan is real life and subject to change at any time. The easiest and first place to make an informed go-no-go decision is in the preflight planning room. The second place to make that decision is at the runway prior to flight. Few pilots have ever had to make an emergency takeoff.
The Plane The plane consists of the usual array of mechanical and cosmetic issues that every aircraft pilot, owner, or operator can identify. For example, Is everything working properly? Is the fuel situation where you expected it to be at that point? Did you look at the back of the Logbook or can to see if there were any deferred items?
The Pilot The traditional IMSAFE checklist is a good start. I - illness M medication S stress A alcohol F fatigue E eating
The Passengers One of the key differences between CRM and SRM is the way passengers interact with the pilot. The pilot of a single engine aircraft has entered into a very personal relationship with the passengers and needs to aware of how the passenger affects the decisions of the pilot.
The Programming Programming here at Barr is limited to the GPS GPS s tend to capture the pilot s attention and hold it for long periods of time. To avoid this phenomenon, the pilot should plan in advance when and where the programming is to take place Adapt their scan to include the GPS and be aware of the time spent with it.
The SRM Decision Process At least five times, before and during the flight, the pilot should review and consider the Plan, the Plane, the Pilot, the Passengers, and the Programming and make the appropriate decision required by the current situation. Failure to make a decision is a decision.
What are your resources? What s in your Airplane? Your observer or First Officer GPS and XM Weather Sectional Charts or AFDC Personal Flight Kit, Cell Phone POH Dispatch Have you called off, or in time or diversion information?
Resources in your airplane FSS or Flight Watch 122.0 or current ATC Check PIREPS or weather outlook. Can you find the FSS Frequency on the chart? Some ATC facilities have weather radar now Make a Cell Phone or Sat Phone call to Chief Pilot, Director of Operations, Safety Manager, Director of Maintenance or Dispatch
Who will benefit from CRM at Barr Air Patrol? Captains and Observers Captains and First Officers Single Pilot Captains The Whole Company! Maybe your Wife or Girlfriend or! PLEASE print the next slide and get it back to the Chief Pilot for your training records. (print it in grayscale)
Completion Certificate Crew Resource Management I, pilot certificate No#, have participated in the annual Crew/Cockpit Resource Management training for Barr Air Patrol. Signed: Date Instructor: Date