The UT Human Factors Research Project UTHFRP

1. The UT Human Factors Research Project(UTHFRP) Department of Psychology The University of Texas at Austin

2. The UT Human Factors Research Project (UTHFRP) Studies individual and crew performance in demanding environments Focuses on system and social context as well as individuals and teams The research team: Bob Helmreich, PhD. FRAeS, PI James Klinect � Doctoral Candidate, LOSA Michelle Harper, Doctoral Candidate, ASAP Major Tom Hughes, USAF � postdoctoral fellow, ground safety Chris Henry, Doctoral Candidate, NOSS Ashleigh Merritt, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, LOSA archive analysis Lou Montgomery, Research Assistant, Data management John Wilhelm, Emeritus Research Scientist, LOSA

3. Research Topics and Venues Methodology for Systematic Observation of flight crews (Line Operations Safety Audit-LOSA) � James Klinect Confidential incident reporting system � Michelle Harper Safety issues in ground operations � Tom Hughes Systematic observation of threat and error management in Flight Dispatch Chris Henry Threat and Error in ATC - Chris Henry Analysis of LOSA data archive - Ashleigh Merritt Accident investigation Bob Helmreich

4. Conceptual Framework of our Project The University of Texas Threat and Error Management Model An empirically derived model of how professionals deal with latent and overt threats in their operating environments and the inevitable errors that occur

5. Current Research Focus How crews manage the threats and errors in their daily work Analysis of Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) data Systematic observation of crews LOSA Accident investigation Microcoding

6. History of University of Texas Aviation Research Initial research in flight crew behavior beginning in 1978 Offshoot of NASA research into space flight Aviation as analog of space Jumpseat observations of crews at Texas International Airlines (now Continental)

7. Cockpit (now Crew) Resource Management Developed survey instrument to measure pilot attitudes about crew coordination Cockpit Management Attitudes Questionnaire Expanded to Flight Management Attitudes Questionnaire Administered in more than 25 countries Reflects cultural as well as crew attitudes

8. FAA Advisory Circular 120-51 1985 RLH chaired industry/FAA committee that drafted the Advisory Circular on CRM Participated in updates of AC

9. Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) 1993 Initial observations with Delta Airlines 1996 Focus on threat and error management with Continental Airlines LOSA endorsed by ICAO and IATA Mandated by ICAO 2005 UTHFRP drafted Advisory Circular on LOSA 2005

10. LOSA Worldwide 27 LOSAs based on threat and error management conducted in 20 airlines ICAO has sponsored LOSA Weeks in Hong Kong, Dublin, Seattle, Dubai (threat and error management week in Panama) LOSA Week 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Sept 2005

11. Accident Investigation - RLH Served on Canadian Commission of Inquiry into Air Ontario crash � 1989-1992 US DOJ expert in crash of Avianca Flight 52 at JFK Consultant to Republic of Argentina in crash of LAPA B-737 Expert in case of Flash Air B-737 crash at Sharmh el Sheik

12. Accident Investigation Microcoding of communications Classification in terms of action-decision sequences Communications associated with a specific task Developed to classify and categorize cockpit communications from CVR Methodology used in Northwest 255 and Avianca 52 crashes Being employed in 3 additional crashes LAPA - Argentina Flash - Egypt American Eagle - Missouri

13. Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) Development of classifications using threat and error management framework Development of methodology to query distributed archive of reports Six airline pilot study funded by NASA

14. Personality and Performance 1990s Pilot personality factors related to observed performance on the flight deck Research conducted at People Express UT measures used in pilot and astronaut selection

15. Integrating Research Using the Threat and Error Management approach to examine system issues in aviation LOSA � ATC errors are primary threat for flight crews NOSS � pilot actions and errors are primary threat for ATC Threat and error management provides framework for accident and incident investigation

16. Exporting the Research UTHFRP approach to human performance is being applied in medicine 1997 Institute of Medicine of National Academies of Science concluded that up to 90,000 per year die in the US from medical error Recommended adopting aviation�s approaches to safety UTHFRP participating in application of aviation methods in OR and ER UT Center of Excellence in Patient Safety

17. The University of Texas Human Factors Research Project www.psy.utexas.edu/HumanFactors