The training and practice of crew resource management: an in vivo study of the UK National Police Air Service
by Simon Ashley Bennett
International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics (IJHFE), Vol. 7, No. 3, 2020

Abstract: The UK National Police Air Service (NPAS) provides tactical air support to the police forces of England and Wales. Uniquely, crews are composed of civilian pilots and police officers [tactical flight officers (TFOs)]. Providing tactical air support makes big demands of pilots and TFOs. Threats include aerial hazards, marginal weather, no-notice re-tasking, malfunctions, attacks launched from the ground, a 12-hour shift and irregular meals. Mindful of the need to create flight-deck teams that are resilient, resourceful and, above all, effective, the NPAS jointly trains its pilots and TFOs in crew resource management (CRM). Behaviours trained in CRM ground-schools (such as methodical skepticism, mindfulness and canvassing) were observed on the flight-deck and were seen to impact performance. Joint training of pilots and TFOs in CRM, to the extent that it improves understanding and communication, may improve teamworking. Operators that separately train pilots and cabin crew in CRM should consider joint training. Further, operators should broaden the CRM training catchment to include dispatchers, engineers and other safety-critical personnel. Widening the catchment would acknowledge the systemic character of aviation (Harris and Stanton, 2010; Bennett 2019c). Further, it would acknowledge the Civil Aviation Authority's (2016) exhortation to improve inter-profession coordination. It is recommended that more inductive, in vivo studies of the flight-deck be conducted.

Online publication date: Mon, 05-Oct-2020

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics (IJHFE):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com