Developing a Methodology for Assessing Safety Programs Targeting Human Error in Aviation

Abstract

There is a need to develop an effective methodology for generating and evaluating interventions for reducing accidents due to human error. In this study, the Human Factors Intervention Matrix (HFIX) was used to evaluate current/proposed FAA safety programs to determine (1) the types of interventions typically proposed by this organization and (2) the types of human error these safety interventions target. Over 600 FAA safety recommendations were examined and categorized using the HFIX methodology. Results suggest that FAA safety programs primarily employ organizational/administrative, technological/engineering and human/operator-based interventions. Few approaches focus on either task or environmental changes. There is also a bias toward interventions aimed at pilot decision-making, rather than other common problems in aviation such as skill-based errors or violations. Further research is needed to develop HFIX as a tool for generating, rather than just evaluating, safety programs.