Physical, Mathematical, Computer and Life Sciences › Physical Sciences
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of human factors in aviation, focusing on how human performance, limitations, and behaviors impact safety and efficiency in aviation operations. Learners will explore key concepts such as situational awareness, decision-making, communication, and error management to enhance aviation safety.
This course is designed for aviation professionals including pilots, cabin crew, ground staff, maintenance personnel, and aviation managers seeking to deepen their understanding of human factors. It is also suitable for individuals entering the aviation industry who need foundational knowledge in this area.
None — open enrollment.
Objectives:
• Define human factors and explain their relevance to aviation safety.
• Identify the key human performance limitations that affect flight operations.
• Describe the historical evolution of human factors in aviation.
• Recognise the consequences of human error in aviation incidents.
Topics:
• What are human factors? Definitions and scope.
• The SHELL model (Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware).
• History of human factors in aviation: from early accidents to modern systems.
• Human error: types, causes, and classification (e.g., slips, lapses, mistakes).
• The Dirty Dozen: common human error precursors.
• Introduction to safety culture and just culture.
• Case study: Tenerife runway disaster (1977) – human factors lessons.
Objectives:
• Explain how physiological factors (e.g., fatigue, stress, health) affect performance.
• Describe psychological factors such as perception, attention, and memory.
• Identify the effects of alcohol, medication, and substance use on aviation performance.
• Apply strategies to mitigate human performance limitations.
Topics:
• Circadian rhythms, sleep, and fatigue: causes, effects, and countermeasures.
• Stress: types, symptoms, and management techniques.
• Sensory systems: vision, hearing, and vestibular illusions.
• Information processing: attention, perception, memory, and decision-making.
• Alcohol, drugs, and medication: impact on performance and regulations.
• Health and fitness for duty: medical standards and self-assessment.
• Practical techniques for managing fatigue and stress in aviation.
Objectives:
• Explain the principles of effective communication in aviation.
• Describe the role of teamwork and leadership in flight operations.
• Apply Crew Resource Management (CRM) concepts to enhance safety.
• Analyse communication errors in aviation incidents.
Topics:
• Communication models and barriers: verbal, non-verbal, and written.
• Standard phraseology and read-back/hear-back procedures.
• Team dynamics: roles, responsibilities, and shared mental models.
• Leadership, followership, and assertiveness.
• Crew Resource Management (CRM): history, principles, and applications.
• Decision-making models: naturalistic, analytical, and recognition-primed.
• Case study: Avianca Flight 52 (1990) – communication and decision-making failures.
Objectives:
• Identify human factors issues specific to aircraft maintenance.
• Explain how design and automation affect human performance.
• Describe the role of human-machine interface (HMI) in aviation.
• Apply error prevention strategies in maintenance and operational contexts.
Topics:
• Maintenance human factors: fatigue, procedures, documentation, and shift work.
• The Dirty Dozen in maintenance: examples and prevention.
• Human-machine interface: displays, controls, and alarm design.
• Automation: benefits, pitfalls, and mode awareness.
• Automation bias and complacency.
• Design for error tolerance: forcing functions and barriers.
• Case study: Aloha Airlines Flight 243 (1988) – maintenance human factors.
Objectives:
• Describe the components of a Safety Management System (SMS).
• Apply Threat and Error Management (TEM) model to flight operations.
• Analyse incidents using human factors frameworks.
• Develop a personal action plan for applying human factors knowledge.
Topics:
• Safety Management Systems (SMS): policy, risk management, assurance, promotion.
• Threat and Error Management (TEM): threats, errors, and undesired aircraft states.
• Incident and accident investigation: human factors analysis.
• Reporting systems: just culture and voluntary reporting.
• Organisational factors: culture, resources, and change management.
• Review of key human factors models (SHELL, Dirty Dozen, PEAR).
• Creating a personal human factors action plan.
• Final assessment and course wrap-up.
The practicals provide hands-on experience with human factors tools such as fatigue and stress self-assessment, CRM role-play scenarios, and maintenance error identification exercises. Learners apply theoretical knowledge to realistic aviation situations, enhancing their ability to recognise and mitigate human performance risks.
Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.
Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.
Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.
On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.
| Component | Out of | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) | 100% | 30% |
| Daily Average (multiple choice) | 100% | 20% |
| Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) | 100% | 50% |
| Final Total | — | 100% |
All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.
Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.
Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.
| Delegates | Discount |
|---|---|
| 5 | 3% off |
| 10 | 6% off |
| 15 | 9% off |
| 20 | 12% off |
| 25 | 15% off |
| 30 | 18% off |
| 50 | 30% off |
| 75 | 35% off |
| 100 | 40% off |
3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.
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