Jul 2026· Eksploatacja I Niezawodnosc-maintenance and Reliability· 0 citations· 49 references
Abstract
Aviation maintenance remains a safety‑critical domain where human‑factor errors persist despite technological progress and regulation. Traditional human‑factors approaches are largely retrospective, offering limited predictive insight when task design, cognitive workload, fatigue, and procedural ambiguity exceed human capacity. This study develops and validates a Human Performance Integration (HPI) Model, a predictive, engineering-oriented framework linking maintenance task design with cognitive constraints and error probability. A mixed‑methods design combines technician interviews (n = 21) and 47 incident reports from a regional airline. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification models non‑linear interactions among workload, fatigue, task complexity, and documentation clarity. The HPI model functions as a proactive design support tool, enabling engineers to evaluate task structures and workload allocations, embedding human performance limits directly into safety critical design decisions.
Human factors remain one of the leading contributors to aviation accidents despite continuous advancements in aircraft technology and safety regulations. This study examined the critical role of human factors in aviation accident prevention, focusing on Crew Resource Management (CRM), Training and Competency Development, and Safety Culture among Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) students, licensed aircraft mechanics, and on-the-job training (OJT) trainees at Indiana Aerospace University during the Academic Year 2025–2026. An explanatory sequential mixed-method research design was employed, integrating quantitative survey data with qualitative interview responses to provide a comprehensive understanding of maintenance-related human factors. A total of 90 respondents participated in the quantitative phase, while 10 participants were purposively selected for the qualitative inquiry. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and ranking, were utilized to analyze quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses. The findings revealed that respondents strongly agreed on the critical importance of CRM, Training and Competency Development, and Safety Culture in preventing aviation accidents. Teamwork, communication, situational awareness, competency-based training, and organizational commitment to safety were consistently identified as essential elements for minimizing maintenance-related errors. However, the study also identified persistent challenges, including communication breakdowns, insufficient emphasis on human factors education, limited practical exposure, inadequate maintenance resources, ineffective shift turnovers, and unclear task allocation. These issues indicate the need for stronger integration of technical and non-technical competencies within aviation education and maintenance organizations. Based on the findings, an action plan emphasizing continuous human factors training, standardized communication protocols, simulation-based learning, and the promotion of a proactive safety culture was developed. The study contributes empirical evidence that supports curriculum enhancement, organizational safety initiatives, and evidence-based strategies for reducing maintenance-related human errors and strengthening aviation safety.
Brian Robinson, Lance Frederic Arcosa, Khazim Joseph Cagigas et al.· Journal of Advanced Studies...· 0 citations
The reliability of aviation maintenance personnel directly impacts flight safety, yet systematic methodologies for the quantitative prediction of human error probability (HEP) in this domain remain lacking. To address this gap, a novel human factors reliability analysis method for aviation maintenance is proposed, extending the SPAR-H model through Evidential Reasoning (ER). This method is implemented as follows: Maintenance tasks are decomposed into subtasks. Subsequently, the eight types of Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) for each subtask are evaluated by domain experts according to defined PSF levels. Expert judgments are then aggregated using Evidential Reasoning theory, enabling the calculation of aggregated PSF levels. These aggregated levels are interpolated to determine the corresponding impact multipliers. Finally, the HEP for aviation maintenance operations is calculated by integrating the SPAR-H basic error probability model with task series/parallel logic rules. The proposed methodology is validated using an inspection operation case study. This study establishes a methodological framework for human factors reliability analysis in aviation maintenance, providing a theoretical foundation for developing scientifically grounded prevention and control measures to enhance aviation safety levels.
Meng Meng, Ning Ma, Zhongqing Guan et al.· SAE technical paper series· 0 citations
Mental fatigue is a significant human factor that adversely affects cognitive performance, decision-making, and task accuracy in aviation maintenance, thereby increasing the likelihood of maintenance errors and compromising operational safety. This study investigated the impact of mental fatigue on aircraft maintenance tasks among Aircraft Maintenance Technology students at Indiana Aerospace University during their On-the-Job Training (OJT). Specifically, it examined the effects of mental fatigue on students' cognitive performance, aircraft maintenance inspections, and susceptibility to human error, while identifying common fatigue-related challenges encountered during training. The study employed a mixed-methods research design using a convergent parallel approach. A total of 101 purposively selected respondents, consisting of Aircraft Maintenance Technology and Aerospace Engineering students with OJT experience, participated in the study. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire administered via Google Forms, incorporating a four-point Likert scale and open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were subjected to thematic analysis. The findings revealed that respondents generally agreed that mental fatigue significantly impairs attention, concentration, memory recall, inspection accuracy, and decision-making during aircraft maintenance tasks. They also strongly agreed that fatigue contributes to increased human error, reduced alertness, and decreased compliance with maintenance procedures. The most frequently reported challenges included increased human error, difficulty reviewing maintenance procedures, slower inspection performance, higher task-related mistakes, and impaired decision-making. The study concludes that effective fatigue management should be integrated into aviation education through structured rest periods, fatigue awareness programs, balanced academic workloads, and wellness initiatives to improve students' performance, enhance maintenance quality, and strengthen aviation safety.
Jeanu Dee Gonzales, Miles Orlan Gallego, Adrian Rj Abella et al.· Journal of Advanced Studies...· 0 citations
The ongoing advancement of cockpit automation and the increasing shortage of qualified pilots have intensified discussions on Reduced Crew Operations (RCO) in commercial aviation. RCO comprises two main concepts: Extended Minimum Crew Operations (eMCO), which temporarily reduce cockpit crew during cruise, and Single Pilot Operations (SiPO), which envisage a single pilot on board throughout the entire flight. While technological progress suggests growing feasibility, pilot acceptance remains a critical human factors challenge.This paper investigates pilot acceptance of RCO from a human factors perspective, with a particular focus on trust in automation, perceived safety, and job-related concerns. An empirical mixed-methods study was conducted using an online survey among active, former, and prospective commercial pilots. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, while qualitative responses were examined through structured content analysis. The results indicate an overall low level of acceptance toward RCO, with particularly strong rejection of SiPO. Safety concerns, increased workload, and the perceived irreplaceability of a second pilot were identified as dominant barriers. Acceptance of eMCO was moderately higher but strongly conditional on reliable automation, transparent system behavior, and robust organizational safeguards. Statistical analyses reveal a significant positive relationship between trust in automation and acceptance of RCO, as well as a significant negative relationship between age and acceptance. Other factors, including flight experience, professional position, aviation sector, and perceived job insecurity, showed no significant effects. The findings highlight pilot acceptance as a decisive prerequisite for the implementation of RCO concepts and emphasize the importance of human-centered automation design, trust calibration, and transparent safety strategies in future cockpit systems.
Melanie Kranich, Sumona Sen, Patrick Poetters· AHFE International· 0 citations
Human factors remain the predominant contributors to aviation accidents, yet the cognitive foundations of pilot performance have not been systematically defined. Existing cognitive frameworks inadequately represent the complex, high-demand environment of flight operations. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify a core cognition set for piloting, defined as the minimal group of cognitive modules most consistently related to flight performance, and to examine how these modules are affected by aviation-specific risk factors. A total of 93 studies were included in this review. Of these, 31 reported quantitative associations between cognitive performance and flight outcomes. A three-level mixed-effects meta-regression model was applied to estimate pooled effect sizes for each cognitive module. Meanwhile, 74 studies examined the influence of aviation factors such as fatigue, hypoxia, gravitational load, and aging. Meta-analytic findings indicated four cognitive modules (Perception, Working Memory, Multitasking Flexibility, and Psychomotor) as showing the strongest and most reliable associations with flight performance (Fisher’s z = 0.356–0.440, p < 0.001). The narrative synthesis corroborated that these four modules were most sensitive to operational and physiological risks such as fatigue, sleep deprivation, hypoxia, and aging. Working memory and cognitive flexibility consistently emerged as the earliest indicators of cognitive deterioration.
Hong-Yi Huang, Yi-Zhen Guo, Junsong Lu et al.· Behavioral Science· 0 citations
Mixed Reality (MR) head-mounted displays may offer a cost-efficient, immersive alternative to conventional flight simulation displays, but adverse human factors, particularly cybersickness, visual fatigue, and ergonomic strain, can impair pilot performance and training effectiveness in safety-critical aviation contexts.
Using a systematic PRISMA-based review, we identified and synthesized evidence on human factors associated with MR/virtual reality (VR) HMD use in pilot training and analogous safety-critical simulation across 80 included sources. Human-factor drivers and mitigation strategies were synthesized into a dual-taxonomy, with mitigation approaches categorized into hardware, software, ergonomic, physiological, and psychological groups. Strategy viability was interpreted through a regulatory lens informed by aviation authority expectations.
Cybersickness, visual strain, musculoskeletal fatigue, and sensory conflict were the most consistently reported issues. Strategies that preserved simulator fidelity, such as high-quality HMD selection, calibration, ergonomic setup, and structured onboarding, appeared more operationally suitable than approaches that altered realism or visual continuity, such as field-of-view restriction. Risk of bias appraisal identified recurring methodological limitations including convenience sampling, heterogeneous study designs, and limited preregistration, reducing confidence in the generalizability of some findings.
Human factors remain a major barrier to MR HMD adoption in pilot training, while operational and regulatory constraints strongly shape which mitigation strategies are feasible and contextually suitable. Although much of the evidence base remains VR-derived, many findings appear transferable to MR due to shared HMD-mediated perceptual and ergonomic mechanisms. These findings provide guidance for developers, training providers, and regulators seeking to improve comfort and safety without undermining simulator fidelity.
Antonio Perez, Avinash Singh, J. Mitchell et al.· Frontiers in Virtual Reality· 2 citations