Human Factors in Aviation

     Human factors in aviation can be anything from a person's mental, emotional, and physical state. Also, their capabilities and limitations. AMT's face a unique set of human factors. This is because they're most likely working in a small place, early morning or late evenings. (FAA, 2018). With these working conditions, technicians and the managers have to be aware of the human factors listed above. A technician might be getting overworked. Just one problem, but it could lead to their mental, emotional, and physical state to deteriorate. If you add in the air-conditioning not working inside of the hot hangar bay in the middle of July in Nevada, you are going to have a lot of human errors occurring. Let's say a group of technicians are working on replacing an engine. They are having to stay over a few hours to get the job done. It's been 103 degrees outside during the day. The air-conditioning is out. Joey had promised his wife he wouldn't work late today for the third day in a row, but because it was so hot today, the team wasn't able to work as quickly as they wanted to. Joey is also a "macho" man but is good at working in groups and is usually the leader of the shop. While trying to slide the new engine back into the bay, the team can't get it lined up just right. Joey finally snaps and starts belittling everyone out there telling them they're useless among other things. He then just tries to do the job by himself. Joey ends up crushing some of the fuel lines and hurting himself in the process. Joey just cost the company time and money. Joey was tired, hot, stressed, and just mentally done. Even though getting aircraft ready for flight status is important, we have to remember human needs are more important. If Joey would have spoken to his manager and explained he's carrying stress from home because his wife is tired of him always working over, with the other factors they faced that day, maybe the incident could have been prevented. The manager could have built a solid argument as to why they need more personnel so the current workers aren't being overworked and could have expedited the air-conditioning maintenance if he was aware of it being broken. 

Human error and human factors will always be present in any job, but if all AMT's can sympathize that they're not alone in the battle and if they have good leadership, the 80% of accidents caused by humans in aviation can be brought down. 

Aeronautics Guide. (2019a, September 7). Aviation Human Factors. Aircraft Systems. https://www.aircraftsystemstech.com/2017/07/aviation-human-factors.html

Claiborne, M. (2021, February 6). The Human Factors in Aviation. Aero Corner. https://aerocorner.com/blog/human-factors-in-aviation/#:%7E:text=The%20Human%20Factors%20in%20Aviation%201%20Human%20Factors,is%20understanding%20what%20has%20gone%20wrong%20historically.%20

Federal Aviation Administration. (2018). Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook (2018th ed.). AMT_Handbook_Addendum_Human_Factors.pdf (faasafety.gov)