Aviation Crew Resource Management: Principles, Processes and Training

This report delves into Aviation Crew Resource Management (CRM), specifically exploring the principles of Threat and Error Management (TEM) and their application within the modern aviation industry. The report begins by defining TEM as the process of detecting and responding to threats and errors to prevent adverse outcomes, emphasizing its importance in mitigating human performance deficiencies that contribute to aircraft accidents. It outlines key principles of TEM, including information sharing, observation and interpretation, and alert search. The report then describes the processes and aspects considered when planning and arranging a CRM course, highlighting the significance of CRM in ensuring flight operation safety. Essential factors in CRM design are discussed, such as safe flight operation, effective communication, internal and external monitoring, and feedback generation. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of training in addressing human performance deficiencies and preventing accidents, underscoring the International Civil Aviation Organization's focus on integrating TEM into pilot training schedules. References to relevant literature are included to support the analysis.

Running head: Aviation Crew Resource Management
Aviation Crew Resource Management
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Description of the principles of Threat and Error management and critical evaluation of the
practicality and using it in modern aviation industry
As per Zhao, Hua and Ren (2017), the threat and error management or what is most
commonly known as TEM refers to the process of threat detecting and responding to threats and
errors in order to assure that the outcome does not result into error. It is mostly observed that
aircraft accidents are closely linked with the deficiencies in human performance inclusive of
poor look out, poor decision taking, inappropriate task organization, ineffective task organization
and failure in recognizing threats (Cusick, Cortes and Rodrigues 2017). In order to control the
aircraft accidents which are mostly caused by human negligence, the International Civil Aviation
Organization gives immense importance to the management of threat and errors in order to
include it in all the training schedule of pilots. The principles of threat and error management are
as follows:
Information sharing: The main principle of TEM is information processing during the operation
of flight (Hickey et al. 2015). This process of information sharing includes all the stages from the
planning to the signing of the technical log by pilots. In order to understand the possible threats
and errors, an instructor is required to know the process of information so that they can be able to
apply the principles on the person concerned regarding proper look out, decision taking,
communication and so on.
Observing and interpreting: Observation as well as interpretation is considered to be the other
major principle of TEM (Lee et al. 2017). In order to manage threat and errors instructors and
pilots must take the following factors under consideration like air traffic, weather forecast,

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mainly understanding adverse weather, visibility reducing, and detection of technologcal faults
and so on.
Alert search: The alert search refers to the visual scanning after a pilot receives information on
traffic (Stolzer 2017). During the time of alert search, the pilots are told where to look in or
where to not. Hence, alert search holds importance since it helps the pilots to remain aware of
possible dangers.
Description of the process and aspects will be consider when planning and arranging the
CRM course
As per Jensen (2017), Crew Resource Management or CRM refers to the application of
the knowledge and skills of human factors in order to conduct flight operation with the objective
of maintaining efficiency. In the entire aviation industry, crew resource management holds
immense importance since it assures safety in the flight operation. Helmreich and Merritt (2017)
further states that the essential factors that should be kept in mind while designing crew resource
management are: the intention of safe flight operation, cooperation and well communication
between pilots, air traffic control, cabin crew members, internal and external monitoring,
feedback generation in order to further improvement of flight operation.
The aim to operate safe flight
The objective of operating safe flight is the core element of crew resource management,
rather it can be said the intention of safe flight operation is the foundation of crew resource
management (Flin and Maran 2015).
Communication between pilots and other members of flight operation

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In order to assure success of crew management operation, it needs to be assured that the
pilots and the members of air traffic control are have well communication between them since air
traffic control sends signals to the pilots regarding traffic (Campbell and Bagshaw 2016). The
pilots also needs to have well connection and a better cooperative approach with the cabin crews
as they take the responsibility of managing the passengers in case of disasters occur.
Internal and external monitoring
Internal and external monitoring is the other major factor while assuring the crew
resource management. In order to assure safe flight operation, it needs to be assured that the
intra-crew members and aircrafts are well monitored ensuring early detection of the possible
faults (Schwartz et al. 2018). On the other hand, it needs to be ensured that the poor teamwork,
adverse weather, fuel state, terrain and location of aircrafts needs to be screened under the
practice of external monitoring with the aim of avoiding any unpleasant incidents like accidents.
While conducting external monitoring, it needs to be assured that the flights are at the right
location before they take off. Meanwhile, it needs to be assured that while landing the flights are
landed at the right location.
Feedback generation
Feedback generation upon the performance of the pilots can be highly beneficial since it
identifies areas for further improvement (Flin and Maran 2015). The pilots will be given
feedback upon their performance and management of disasters. For example, in case of
successful management of disasters, well cooperation and communication and monitoring, the
pilots will be given positive feedback with the view that they further continue to remain constant
in performing well while assuring the safe flight operation (Campbell and Bagshaw 2016). On

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other hand, those pilots who will fail to perform will be given the feedback of sharing their issues
and challenges that create obstacles in the pathway of successful crew resource management and
safe flight operation. The feedback will be contained suggestions and recommendations which
will help the pilots to work on the areas where they can improve further.
Training
It is mostly seen that aircraft accidents are closely linked with the deficiencies in human
performance inclusive of poor look out, poor decision taking, inappropriate task organization,
ineffective task organization and failure in recognizing threats (Jensen 2017). In order to control
the aircraft accidents which are mostly caused by human negligence, the International Civil
Aviation Organization gives immense importance to the management of threat and errors in
order to include it in all the training schedule of pilots (Flin and Maran 2015). The pilots will be
given training on how to remain alert in order to stop any accidents from being occurred.

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References
Jensen, R.S., 2017. Pilot judgment and crew resource management. Routledge.
Flin, R. and Maran, N., 2015. Basic concepts for crew resource management and non-technical
skills. Best Practice & Research Clinical Anaesthesiology, 29(1), pp.27-39.
Campbell, R.D. and Bagshaw, M., 2016. Human Performance and Limitations in
Aviation. Collegiate Aviation Review, 34(2), p.103.
Schwartz, M.E., Welsh, D.E., Paull, D.E., Knowles, R.S., DeLeeuw, L.D., Hemphill, R.R.,
Essen, K.E. and Sculli, G.L., 2018. The effects of crew resource management on teamwork and
safety climate at Veterans Health Administration facilities. Journal of Healthcare Risk
Management, 38(1), pp.17-37.
Stolzer, A.J., 2017. Safety management systems in aviation. Routledge.
Lee, S.Y., Bates, P.R., Murray, P.S. and Martin, W.L., 2017. An exploratory study on the post-
implementation of threat and error management training in Australian general
aviation. InternatIonal Journal of traInIng research, 15(2), pp.136-147.
Hickey, E.J., Nosikova, Y., Pham-Hung, E., Gritti, M., Schwartz, S., Caldarone, C.A.,
Redington, A. and Van Arsdell, G.S., 2015. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
“threat and error” model applied to pediatric cardiac surgery: Error cycles precede∼ 85% of
patient deaths. The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, 149(2), pp.496-507.
Zhao, Y., Hua, S. and Ren, X., 2017. Relevance research of threat/error and undesired states in
air traffic management based on Bayesian Network Model. Journal of Air Transport
Management, 60, pp.45-48.

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Cusick, S.K., Cortes, A.I. and Rodrigues, C.C., 2017. Commercial Aviation Safety. McGraw-Hill
Education.
Helmreich, R.L. and Merritt, A.C., 2017, November. 11 Safety and error management: The role
of crew resource management. In Aviation Resource Management: Proceedings of the Fourth
Australian Aviation Psychology Symposium: v. 1: Proceedings of the Fourth Australian Aviation
Psychology Symposium. Routledge.