Course Description

This course focuses on the identification and management of the human factors that are encountered in all aspects of aircraft maintenance operations.  The course features presentations, interactive discussions, workshops, and data management procedures.

Research has shown that 60 - 80 percent of aviation accidents are attributed to human error. According to a survey of the literature, aircraft maintenance and inspection errors have contributed anywhere from 9 to 23 percent of these accidents. For example, approximately 20 to 30 percent of in-flight engine shutdowns are caused by maintenance errors. Depending on an organization’s cost structure, this can be as much as $500,000 for a single event.  Ground damage has been estimated at $70,000 per event while recent research indicates the actual operational costs may be six times higher. Commercial flight delays can cost a minimum of $10,000 per hour with cancellations costing $50,000 each.  In today’s competitive environment, unscheduled maintenance due to human error leads to lost revenue in a variety of forms.  Conservative estimates indicate maintenance errors cost commercial airlines approximately $2 billion annually. Like its commercial counterpart, military aviation operations face similar financial and budget constraints; however, monetary impact is only one measure of maintenance error.  Compromised operational readiness can impose both short and long-term challenges that can impact Search and Rescue, Logistics, Operational Support, National Readiness, and Humanitarian Efforts.

Who Should Attend

Maintenance managers, supervisors, lead technicians, accident investigators, and civil aviation authorities. Training, operational, non-technical, and quality control personnel will also find this course of high value

Personnel assigned to build, implement, revise, and manage aviation maintenance programs

Individuals who need to understand the human element in aviation maintenance operations and how human error and human limitations affect aviation maintenance

Those charged with developing and implementing safety programs in their maintenance organization to identify, prioritize, prevent and mitigate human error and its consequences

How You Will Benefit

• Obtain the tools required to implement human factors program elements into a comprehensive maintenance management system
• Enable decisions based on a "data-driven" approach to human factors in maintenance operations
• Understand maintenance human error and the "organizational accident chain" presented in the Safety Management Systems context
• Develop and implement intervention strategies
• Prioritize human errors in the context of Risk Management
• Enhance theoretical knowledge through case studies and practical applications
• Identify what causes human error, how it’s identified through data collection, and the measures that can be used for error reduction and management
• Upon course completion, the maintenance professional will possess the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate human performance concepts into their operation.
• This course is accepted by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals for Continuance of Certification credit.
• This course counts for the Certificate in Safety Management Systems granted by SCSI.
• SCSI will award 3.6 CEUs to each participant who successfully completes this course.

Course Topics

• Human Factors in Maintenance Related Aviation Accident/Incidents
• Human Error Perspectives
• The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS)
• Fatigue Management
• Fatigue in Maintenance Shiftwork Operations
• Introduction to Maintenance Resource Management (MRM)
• MRM Communications
• MRM Professional Development
• MRM Workload and Taskload Management
• MRM Technical Proficiency
• Safety Culture
• Just Culture
• Threat and Error Management
• Intervention Strategies
• Intervention Matrix
• Safety Reporting and Data Management

Course Schedule