Crew Coordination Behaviors as Predictors of Problem Detection and Decision Making Times

Abstract

Aeronautical decision making (ADM) is a critical skill that encompasses the ability to quickly identify, diagnose, and rectify problems during flight. ADM training has gained considerable importance because the lack of decision making skills and their inappropriate application have been cited as factors in several recent aircraft accidents. The current study investigated the relationship between crew coordination behaviors and the time required to identify a typical flight problem. Thirty-four military aircrews were observed during a flight simulation which involved a problem situation. The crews’ coordination behaviors during the five minutes immediately preceding the problem were entered into a discriminant function analysis of the times required to identify and rectify the problem. The results indicated that crew coordination behaviors significantly predicted the time required to identify a problem. At the same time, these behaviors could not be used to discriminate effectively with respect to the time required for problem solving. The results are evaluated with respect to their usefulness for prescriptive ADM training approaches.