Human Performance On The Flight Deck Paperback

Professor Don Harris

Taking an integrated, systems approach to dealing exclusively with the human performance issues encountered on the flight deck of the modern airliner, this book describes the inter-relationships between the various application areas of human factors, recognising that the human contribution to the operation of an airliner does not fall into neat pigeonholes. The relationship between areas such as pilot selection, training, flight deck design and safety management is continually emphasised within the book. It also affirms the upside of human factors in aviation - the positive contribution that it can make to the industry - and avoids placing undue emphasis on when the human component fails. The book is divided into four main parts. Part one describes the underpinning science base, with chapters on human information processing, workload, situation awareness, decision making, error and individual differences. Part two of the book looks at the human in the system, containing chapters on pilot selection, simulation and training, stress, fatigue and alcohol, and environmental stressors. Part three takes a closer look at the machine (the aircraft), beginning with an examination of flight deck display design, followed by chapters on aircraft control, flight deck automation, and HCI on the flight deck. Part four completes the volume with a consideration of safety management issues, both on the flight deck and across the airline; the final chapter in this section looks at human factors for incident and accident investigation. The book is written for professionals within the aviation industry, both on the flight deck and elsewhere, for post-graduate students and for researchers working in the area.

1409423387

English

Taylor & Francis Ltd

30 September 2011

384

Don Harris is Managing Director of HFI Solutions Ltd and Visiting Professor in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Prior to founding the HFI Solutions Don was Professor of Aerospace Human Factors at Cranfield University. He has been involved in the design and certification of flight deck interfaces; worked in the safety assessment of helicopter operations for North Sea oil exploration and exploitation and was an accident investigator on call to the British Army Division of Army Aviation. Don is a Fellow of the Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors and a Chartered Psychologist. He is also a member of the UK Human Factors National Technical Committee for Aerospace and Defence. In 2006 Don received the Royal Aeronautical Society Bronze award for work leading to advances in aerospace and in 2008 was part of the Human Factors Integration Defence Technology Centre team that received the UK Ergonomics Society President's Medal 'for significant contributions to original research, the development of methodology and the application of knowledge within the field of ergonomics'. Don is author or editor of several other Ashgate volumes, including 'Human Factors for Civil Flight Deck Design', 'Contemporary Issues in Human Factors and Aviation Safety' (with Helen Muir) and 'Modelling Command and Control' (with Neville Stanton and Chris Baber).

Finally, a complete book that addresses the positive contributions of Human Factors knowledge and Aviation Psychology. A good description of how all of its facets come together. A must reader. Written by a researcher and teacher with extensive experience in coping with the best and worst of humans working in one of the most rewarding industries in the world. Take your time to read, learn and do not forget: enjoy!' Peter Jorna, President, European Association for Aviation Psychology 'What a gem of a book! Bravo Don Harris! This is a must read for those interested in the science and practice of human factors in aviation. An easy to read book that provides insights into the complexity of human performance on the flight deck. The topics in this book are rooted in science yet they have direct connection to flight deck - a wonderful addition to the aviation literature.' Eduardo Salas, University of Central Florida, USA 'Don Harris has a pedigree in flight deck design, certification and accident analysis. Here he condenses 25 years experience into 19 chapters, separated into four section on science base, human, machine and management. Above all else, Don makes it clear that everything is connected to everything else. The spider diagrams highlight the web of knowledge he is passing onto the reader in his own inimitable style. Nothing is left uncovered, and the reader is certainly not left wanting in this comprehensive text. Occasionally Don wanders off to present the thoughts to the dissenting scientist, showing that at the cutting edge of research Human Factors is still evolving - waiting for the next paradigm shift. This book is filled with examples of how Human Factors has in the past, and can in the future, benefit flight operations and flight deck design. Don is keen to highlight that this benefit will only be realised fully if a systemic (aka Don's spiders), through-life, approach is taken. There is something for everyone in this book and it should suit both the newcomer and old-hand alike. For those new to the subject or domain, a good overview can be gleaned by reading the introductory and concluding chapters together with the introductions to each of the four parts. It could serve as a student text on the subject matter, covering a chapter a week. The aviation specialist will probably want to dip in and out of relevant chapters as appropriate. The aviation researcher will be stimulated by the questions addressed and will probably want to test the assumptions and challenges set-up in the analyses of the state-of-the-art. They can add their own dissenting voices. The practitioner should be able to implement the many of the ideas and approaches presented. Don has added some excellent pointers to further reading at the end of each chapter. In short, this book is likely to have a long shelf-life for those interested in flight deck Human Factors. It will certainly be well-thumbed on mine.' Neville A. Stanton, University of Southampton, UK 'Whoever is looking for a most up-to-date text on human factors in aviation, look no further. Don Harris's Human Performance on the Flight Deck is comprehensive, balanced, extensively illustrated and well-referenced. Don Harris leaves no topic untouched. His book is complete, a great standard for teachers and instructors alike.' Sidney Dekker, Griffith University, Australia 'This book is written for professionals within the aviation industry, whether that be on the flight deck or elsewhere; for post-graduate students; and for researchers working in the area. However, many of the observations in this extremely well crafted and highly readable book can be applied to many other commercial activities.' RoSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal January 2012 'The book is essential reading for human factors instructors but it provides also a good starting point to those readers who have only basic knowledge about human factors. This book will be a classic in the field of human factors books.' FinnAir Safety No 1 2012