The status of human factors in civil rotorcraft safety

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The status of human factors in civil rotorcraft safety

Hughes, T. / Ingram, D.

This paper examines the role of human factors in civil rotorcraft safety, notably the contribution of poor situation awareness, and high workload, to reduced safety. Evidence of the key issues is drawn from two studies sponsored by the UK Civil Aviation Authirity (CAA). The first of these, performed by GKN Westland Helicopters Ltd with GEC Marconi Avionics (Ref 1), considered the factors contributing to 30 helicopter accidents in which fully functional helicopters either flew into the sea or ground or came close to doing so. Key conclusions from a second study, a survey of workload and safty hazards in offshore operations (Ref 2), are also introduced. This study, carried out by the DERA Centre for Human Sciences at Farnborough, focused on in-flight paperwork but also covered many other safety issues. In addition to the potential problems faced in helicopter operations the paper examines the contribution human factors can make towards the solution of these problems. In particular the rationale behind new airworthiness regulations proposed for the certification of the human factors design process in commercial fixed wing aircraft is discussed. The challenges of adapting these procedures to the rotorcraft environment are adressed.