Examining Human Factors and Pilot Error in Aviation: Sukhoi Superjet 100-95B Case Study

In this case study we will discuss about Introductory human factors and below are the summaries point:- The text discusses a fatal incident involving the Sukhoi Superjet 100-95B aircraft during a demonstration flight. The crash was attributed to pilot error, highlighting the importance of human factors in aviation safety. The role of aviation psychology in assessing pilots' mental health and reducing human errors is emphasized.

Introductory Human Factors
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Abstract
The incident described in the position paper is about Sukhoi Superjet 100-95B. This is a civil
aviation aircraft. The aircraft contains twin power jet SaM146 engines. The incident reported in
the positioned paper is among one of the three fatalities that occurred while using the super jet
100 series. In the positioned paper, the flight took off for a demonstration flight. At an elevation
of 6102 feet, the jet collided with the mountain and crashed. Survivors were none and the aircraft
was completely destroyed. Mount Salak has an elevation of 7254 feet and the descent of aircraft
took to 6000 feet from 1000feet. The radar signals for an impending crash were ignored by the
pilot. The equipment had already successfully demonstrated its flight in Myanmar, Pakistan, and
Kazakhstan previously. Thus the error in judgment can be assumed on behalf of the pilot.
Reports in January 2013 confirmed the cause to be as Pilot error. Hence it can be concluded as a
human error. The case study provides an inference that human factors improvement is necessary.
The reduction of human errors and their occurrence is important. The positioned paper also
emphasizes on the role of aviation psychology in term of airline safety and productivity.
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Table of Contents
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Discussion...................................................................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................................6
References...................................................................................................................................................8
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Introduction
Human factors are key factors in the aviation industry. The jet operation is immensely reliant on
the capability of the employees, who are responsible for jet operation. Thus aviation psychology
plays an important role. The science is crucial in the maintenance of a safe and effective aviation
system on human perspective. Mental health of the pilot is crucial as many lives depend on the
pilot (Eaap, 2019). In order to alleviate the human error risks, the psychologists perform a series
of psychological tests. The tests include interviewing of flight workers on board, various
capacity exams for pilots. Pilots undergo simulation tests and sensorimotor test battery
evaluations. Thus the psychologist can determine technical and numeric insight of the pilot. It is
necessary to evaluate the pilot's spatial insight and abstract thinking capability as well. This will
ensure the safety of lives of people dependant on the pilot (Stanton, 2019).
The human involvement in jet operation increases the significance of HRM in Aviation Industry.
Human factors involve the study of human behaviors, human capacity and limitations and the
integration of knowledge of aviation systems in order to achieve safety, optimum performance
and overall well being of the flight pilot. Hence, there are unlimited future prospects for the
human factors in the aviation industry. However, with the advent of automation system shall
minimize the errors. Automation systems are now integrated with voice commands making the
human operations easier. Even the communication system, surveillance and ATC systems shall
be integrated and human factors shall be responsible for route mapping only in future
(GRAEBER, 2019). The study of limitations brings about the study of human errors. The case
discussed in the positioned paper is one such example of human error. Humans commit errors.
However, with the development of appropriate training and system, the error can be reduced or
minimized so that minor errors do not cause substantial damage. Training is devised to
understand and operate aviation devices however training is not enough to reduce the risk of
errors. Thus it is necessary to design the equipment with control and warning system in such a
manner that the aircraft is capable to alert the pilot about any impending errors. Voice
automation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) interface have the capability to reduce the risk of
errors. There are three types of errors prevalent in aviation. Slips, such errors are mostly caused
by unconsciously (Avers, 2015). It is not intentional like switching one key before another when
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the sequence was the other way round. A mistake is the second type of error. This is a deliberate
error, like, lowering the elevation from 10000 feet to 6000 feet (Mark, 2013). As it was done in
the case mentioned. The final is a lapse, such error occurs due to stress when the pilot is not able
to take proactive decisions. The term Pilot error defines as such human errors that give rise to a
plane accident. Errors are normally unintentional however in the case study mentioned it is a
case of violation as well. According to the news report the Indonesian government, the pilot
deliberately avoided the signals. Post-crash simulation report mentions that the accident could
have been avoided if the pilot had heeded to the Taws alert at 24 seconds before the crash (Mark,
2013). Thus the applied problem identified is the mistake of the pilot in lowering the flight and
violation of security guidelines by not paying attention towards Taws alert.
Discussion
Numbers of mechanisms are adopted to reduce the probability of errors among which few are
effective and few are not so effective depending on the situations. The more effective risk control
measures are engineered solutions, functional check and the less effective risk control measures
are duplicate inspections and self-check of work (Hobbs, 2008).
Training is one of the most effective ways to reduce the error may it be for handling a particular
hazard or for overcoming a set of hazards. In the case of flights, training is given on the basis of
the system designed for the aircraft so it is not so effective in case of reducing errors. Various
other mechanisms are designed to reduce the error in the system (Stolzer, Halford and Goglia,
2010). Mechanisms should be framed in such a way that if a single device got failed then it
should not impact on the other device of the systems. This type of model should be adopted by
the aircraft industry. This type of systems minimizes the occurrence of an error in the aircraft. In
aviation companies, the survival of the passengers is taken care of most, so the probability of
causing an error is taken under vital control (Aviationlearning, 2016).Human errors mainly occur
due to mistakes, slips, lapses. The mistakes led to an inappropriate intention of human that could
lead to an unavoidable situation. The accidents occurred because of slips are considered mainly
as unconsciously done accidents. These types of errors are mainly done by experts. Slip leads to
the appropriate intention which causes inappropriate situations. To safeguard a system failure a
number of defensive mechanisms are developed either intentionally or spontaneously. This
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system defense helps to reduce the possibility of error in the system or fix the problem in the
system. The term pilot error comes in play when in aviation industry accident occurs because of
the crew members in a flight. In a way, this pilot error is said to be identical to human error as
the baseline is the same. The most valuable error maintenance should be done on the
organizations' management ground. Advancement should be done in decision making by the
higher authorities, severe incompetent management strategies should be avoided (Drury, 2015).
Where there is an unintentional occurrence of an error, the occurrence of violations become more
intentional. Hence it is required to make an error without doing any violence. While committing
violence without doing any error is possible. There are some natures of violations. Routine
violence follows the path that is of minimal effort whereas exceptional violence takes place in
stimulus moment. Both violations occur in the operational environment (Van Benthem and
Herdman, 2016). This air crash happened due to the flight crew did not recognize the
mountainous area in the local region of the flight due to unavailable of the charts and insufficient
briefing. This could be avoided by the pilot if essential measures are taken by the pilot within 24
seconds of TAWS warning. Again the Jakarta Radar Services did not establish with the
minimum direction of altitudes. The radar system was not properly tied up with the MSAW for
the particular area around the premises of Mount Salak (Dumitru and Boşcoianu, 2015). There
was a delay in the communication; the crew was not at all delivering their progress of flight,
which resulted in pilot unintentionally exited the orbit and the crash took place. The pilot was
frequently warned, but the pilot did not react with the given warning. Hence it can be concluded
that if the pilot was active and also reacted with the TAWS warning then this crash could have
been avoided. Thus, the crash happened due to human error and there was no technical fault. The
pilot and the other crew member should be more careful regarding this issue. They should try to
deliver the issues that they are facing and also deliver their progress. They should also follow the
charts. Let’s take another example; an air crash took place in the year 1982 where the aircraft is
not all de-iced properly according to safe and regulations operation practices. As a result, the
aircraft was unsuccessful to lift at the time of taking off and hindered, resulting to crash in the
Potomac River (Hobbs, 2014).
The explanation for human error mainly depends on the concept that errors by human are
inextricably associated with the operational environment. The operational environment is the
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environment in which most of the error takes place. According to the evaluation of preliminary
data, it has been found that the crash of SukhoiSuperjet 100 happened at the time of controlled
flight. Therefore this signifies that this happened due to human error in spite of any technical
failure (Schwarz and Wolfgang Kallus, 2015). According to the expert, the accident was caused
by the integration of factors. The first one is the inadequate knowledge of crew member
regarding the terrain and nature of flying jet in the mountains. The cause of the SukhoiSuperjet
100 crash could be the misunderstanding among the controlled of air traffic and crew member.
The management needs to develop awareness regarding the significance of failure in the
organization of the aviation industry. The effective response is to develop awareness regarding
the differences between latent failure and active failure. The significant role is played by the
ancillary staff for the prevention of accidents (Ioannou, Harris and Dahlstrom, 2017).
The aircraft moreover includes the latent failure which includes insecure actions. Thus these
active failures were directly associated with accidents for such as navigation errors. The latent
failure moreover encompasses contributory aspects which might be present for the period until it
contributes towards the accident. The relationship among the protection of aviation operations
and recognition of organizational factors need to be acknowledged. Thus in order to prevent this
sort of clash the crew members need to be provided with effective training programs. Effective
communication needs to be put more focused. Effective communication during the period of
emergency plays a most effective role in order to mitigate the hazardous incident. The aircraft's
designers, pilots, and investigators of an accident require specialized training. Therefore this
enables them to recognize these events. The pilots need to be further encouraged for making
effective utilization of the system. This moreover enables pilots to report unusual situations. The
training programs of pilots must include knowledge of meteorology, navigation, air etiquette,
and mechanics. The result of this incident can moreover decline the demand for medium-sized
Superjet. This is because everybody would not be confident enough after this incident to travel in
Superjet. This leads to reducing demand of aviation industry (Kallus, 2011).
Conclusion
The aviation industry cannot function without maintaining its human resource. Although because
of its human resources there are errors which lead to accidents. Maintenance errors occurred as
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the persons, who were assigned that particular task do not perform properly. Hence, there was
substantial maintenance errors existed within the jet. This incident states about the violation of
regulations within aviation industry associated with human factors and its impacts on the socio-
technological industry. Some measures are suggested which should be taken by the aviation
industry to cut shot the accidents in aviation. The topic is mainly focused on human
performances as it is the key source of errors in aviation industry and due to these errors
companies face issues like decreased productivity and financial loss. This topic also referred to
the relationship between a single human performance and the nature of the industry where the
human is working. Efforts should be made by the aviation industry to improve human training
programs and by introducing appropriate tools and equipment. The industry should know the fact
that human errors can be reduced but never can be eliminated so it should always have backups
for the controlling of the situation (Salas, Maurino and Curtis, 2010).
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References
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