Michael Regan

Use of Cognitive Work Analysis for exploration of safety management in the operation of motorcycles and scooters

The risk of accident, injury and death is disproportionately higher for motorcycle riders than for motorists. In this paper, we investigate strategies of safety management associated with operation of powered two-wheel vehicles (motorcycles and scooters). Accident prevention is most often driven by an epidemiological approach that investigates the risk factors associated with accidents. By focusing on risk factors, these types of studies fail to examine the strengths of the system in any depth. In this paper we employ an ethnographic approach structured by reference to the framework of Cognitive Work Analysis, to identify how riders of powered two-wheel vehicles manage their own safety and the safety of others. We anticipate that this research will open up a rich, relatively untapped, area for exploration of safety interventions.

Selecting trainee pilots: Predictive validity of the WOMBAT situational awareness pilot selection test

The WOMBAT pilot selection test is widely used to select candidates for pilot training programs. Despite use in many countries, little information is available regarding the predictive validity of the test. This study was designed to test the ability of the WOMBAT test to predict performance outcomes in a sample of ab-initio pilots. Sixty students commenced the study in 3 cohorts, and completed the WOMBAT test before their performance in the training program was evaluated through flight time to solo, flight time to licence level achievement, and instructor ratings of performance. Higher WOMBAT total scores were significantly related to reduced time to solo, achieving flight licences, as well as some early ratings of performance by flight instructors. Further research now needs to examine the exact nature of the skills and abilities that the test indexes in order to further improve pilot selection and training procedures.

Naturalistic Flying Studies Innovation in Aviation Safety Research (Discussion Panel)

Measuring the performance of operators, and how they interact with complex systems is a key issue in identifying risks and improving safety. Naturalistic studies in some transport domains, chiefly road driving, have yielded significant advances in our understanding of road user behavior and road safety. Naturalistic studies of flying are only starting to develop around the world. This discussion panel focuses on the challenges and opportunities presented by “naturalistic flying studies”, in which pilot behavior is automatically recorded continuously by video, GPS, accelerometers and other sensors. Data acquisition systems for recording pilot behavior in light aircraft are now available, at reasonable cost. This panel will facilitate the sharing of experiences across road and aviation domains of this relatively new data collection and analysis method, and the building of collaborations with, and learning from, naturalistic human factors investigations in these and other domains. Naturalistic flying studies can provide a unique range of information including: exposure data; quantification of risk; the nature and rate of system violations; accident and incident data; normative data by age, experience and operator state; the opportunity to validate simulator, performance and self-reported data; and the ability to evaluate the relative efficacy of new equipment, procedures and safety interventions (see Regan et al 2013). Considering the capabilities of naturalistic human factors investigations, panelists will reflect on the priority research areas for naturalistic flying studies and the unique opportunities they present for aviation safety. Issues that may distinguish the aviation context from other domains in which naturalistic studies have been conducted will also be considered.

Crew Resource Management Training and Young Driver Safety

Compared to other age groups, young novice drivers have a higher risk of being involved in road crashes. Recent research has indicated that, depending on certain passenger and driver characteristics, passengers can have either a positive or negative influence on driver behaviour and also that the principles of Crew Resource Management (CRM) training might be beneficial in addressing some of the problems associated with young driver behaviour when in the presence of passengers. This paper describes a program of research that was undertaken in order to investigate the potential application of CRM training principles within young driver training programs in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), a jurisdiction located in South-East Australia. The findings indicate that the application of CRM principles within young driver training is a viable concept to pursue, and that such interventions have the potential to significantly enhance the positive, and reduce the negative effects of passengers on young driver behaviour. In conclusion to this research, a set of recommendations for the development of an ACT-based trial young driver CRM training program are proposed, and recommendations for further research regarding CRM and driver training are discussed.