The Social and Psychological Aspects Behind Flight

Abstract

There are a variety of psychological, cognitive and social factors that contribute to in-flight interactions between crew members, and in order to achieve optimal communication and safety levels during flight, the concept of Crew Resource Management has become increasingly important. Crew Resource Management refers to effective teamwork that requires both efficient and effective communication of pertinent information between the flight deck, cabin crew members and those not on the aircraft, but responsible for critical flight information and organization. The concept has been adapted from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration workshop in 1979 which identified various factors common amongst aviation accidents, including poor team leadership, failure to adequately delegate tasks and inadequate computer monitoring. Future implications of Crew Resource Management have extended to online training sessions to improve communication, and principles have also expanded into the fields of dentistry and medicine.