Volant Model For Airline Crew Resource Management

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Standards of Performance and Data Collection Using the Volant Model KD Van Drie [email protected]

Electra

Training Systems

To begin with… • 1998 began development of USAirways AQP program based on the Volant Model • Goal was to begin the program with an idea of where we were going! Systematically identify training needs

Volant Model©

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Flight Attendants

OCC

Maintenance

A T C

Equipment Handling Human Interaction & Communication

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Automation

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Checklists Policies, Procedures, Flows, Techniques

“Pictures and Words” to facilitate communication

Task Loading Concept Simply… Tasks Available Time

… task loading

“Potential for Error” More errors are likely to occur when heavily task loaded Simply: • Green: Errors may occur, but they will be caught • Yellow: Errors may occur, but they may not be caught and may become cumulative • Red: Errors will occur that are not caught

Task Loading Task loading begins with the “job at hand” For the pilot…

Different Phases of Flight have Different Task Loading • • • • • • • •

Pre-departure Taxi Takeoff Climb Cruise Descent Approach Landing

Task Loading Task Loading is increased by Additive Conditions – – – – – – – – –

ATC ICING WEATHER CONVECTIVE WEATHER LOW VISIBILITY WEATHER AIRCRAFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION PASSENGER ISSUES HOLDING AIRCRAFT PERFORMANCE LIMITS AIRPORT FACTORS

Crew Factors Crew Factors can increase potential for error (Seven dwarf syndrome) • • • • •

Sleepy Grumpy Happy Bashful Doc...

Fatigue Stress Inattention Assertiveness Complacency

Really… Number of tasks need to be done Number of tasks CAN be done

• Job • Additive Conditions • Crew Factors • Attitude • Level of training • “State of mind” • Physiology • Time

How does it work? • Throughout the flight crews are encouraged to continually assess additive conditions

How does it work?

Captain’s Pre-departure considerations…

•Moving to a new house •Quick Call •First flight of trip •East Coast - Short Flights •Some weather considerations •New First Officer •Pressurization MEL

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Self-diagnosis

What is it like to “be in the green” or “yellow” or “red” ?

“In the Yellow”: Crew Factors

“In the Red”

Getting it back to the green

Can not eliminate error

NORMAL CAUTION DANGER

•Task Loading •Additive Conditions •Crew Factors

Resources to Reduce Risk The Tools of the Trade

• Policies • Procedures • Flows • Techniques

•Automation •Checklist • Do/verify • Read and Do

• Human Interaction

• Equipment Handling

TASK MANAGEMENT SKILLS (TMS)

Use the skills…

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• To reduce task loading • To create redundancy to stop an error chain

Volant Model©

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Flight Attendants

OCC

Maintenance

A T C

Equipment Handling Human Interaction & Communication

PF PNF

Automation

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PNF PF

Checklists Policies, Procedures, Flows, Techniques

What good is AQP ? • Not “teach to the test” ? • Better understanding of training requirements? • Collect Data?

Beginning Data Collection • Gathered the “experts” together • Discovered commonly used Standards of Performance were not robust enough – Looking at a stabilized approach

Defining new standards Can the checkairmen • DEFINE errors • SEE errors • DEBRIEF errors • RECORD errors • Change pilot behavior

Problem # 2 Time available for training How do you transfer all this great information ?

Techniques

Policies,Procedures, Flows, Techniques

Standards for Techniques

Undocumented Techniques are not evaluated Except… a technique may NOT • Interfere with other crew members • Conflict with a documented Policy, Procedure or Flow.

Automation

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Checklists Policies, Procedures, and Flows

• Automation can catch errors; can also create errors • Automation can increase or decrease task loading

Levels of Automation (simplified from ATA and NBAA)

Level 1: Hand flown, raw data Level 2: Hand flown, flight director Level 3: Autopilot, Mode Control Panel Level 4: Autopilot, Flight Management System The more the predictable the environment… the higher the level of automation

Automation

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Checklists Policies, Procedures, Flows, Techniques

Human Interaction and Communication

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Flight Attendan ts

Maintenan ce

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A T C

Human Interaction & Communication

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Automation

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Checklists Policies, Procedures, and Flows

• Interpersonal Communication is one of the best sources of information • Must be “pre-programmed” just like the automation.

Equipment Handling PF PNF PF PNF

Flight Attendan ts

Maintenan ce

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A T C

Equipment Handling Human Interaction & Communication

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Automation

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PNF PF

Checklists Policies, Procedures, and Flows

• Equipment handling is the last barrier, and a most essential skill – It is the foundation the rest is built on – Includes the knowledge required to operate equipment

Pilot’s ABC’s for error management PF PNF PF

Flight Attenda nts

O C Maintena C

nce

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A T C

Aircraft Handling Human Interaction & Communication

Automation

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Checklists Policies, Procedures, and Flows

Assess the potential for Error Balance the use of Resources to prevent and trap errors Communicate Risks and Intentions Volant Model

Pilot’s ABC’s for error management

Volant Model

Not all errors are equal • Common Errors • Consequential Errors

“Potential for Error” Green – Yellow – Red Another look • Green: Business as usual • Yellow: Must re prioritize to accomplish tasks • Red: Must re prioritize and determine which tasks are not critical

Integrated Use of Volant Model • Provides a foundation for: – – – – – – –

“Error-Trapping” tool for pilots Policy and Procedure design Curriculum Development Model Debriefing Tool for Check Airmen Communication Tool for Pilots Crew Observations Data Collection & Analyses

Contact KD Van Drie [email protected]

Electra

Training Systems