USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

CAPT James Fraser MC USNCAPT James Fraser MC USNNaval Safety CenterNaval Safety Center

HUMAN FACTORSHUMAN FACTORSCOUNCILS AND COUNCILS AND

BOARDSBOARDSin Naval Aviationin Naval Aviation

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

776 aircraftdestroyed in

1954

Naval AviationMishap Rate

FY50-97FY50-97

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

50 60 70 80 90

Angled decksAviation Safety Center

Naval Aviation Maintenance Programestablished in 1959 (NAMP)

RAG concept initiatedNATOPS Program initiated 1961

Squadron Safety programSystem Safety Designated Aircraft

ACT ORM

Fiscal Year

25 aircraftdestroyed in

1997

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

All Navy/Marine Corps MishapsAll Navy/Marine Corps Mishaps CY 1977-92CY 1977-92

Cla

ss A

, B

,& C

Mis

hap

s/1

00,0

00 F

lig

ht

Hou

rs

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

197

7

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

Year

Mechanical

Human

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

WHY DO WE NEED HFC/HFB?WHY DO WE NEED HFC/HFB?

Aircrew error is the Aircrew error is the leading cause of mishapsleading cause of mishapsIn many instances, mishap In many instances, mishap causal factors were causal factors were previously known to previously known to supervisors or peers, but supervisors or peers, but unknown to the COunknown to the COThe insidious nature of The insidious nature of human factors requires that human factors requires that they be reviewed on a they be reviewed on a regular basisregular basis

Human Factors CouncilsHuman Factors CouncilsHuman Factors BoardsHuman Factors Boards

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?Performance trends, training Performance trends, training currency and proficiencycurrency and proficiency

Psychological, physiological, Psychological, physiological, social and professional factorssocial and professional factors

Medical conditions, emotional and Medical conditions, emotional and interpersonal stressorsinterpersonal stressors

Human Factors CouncilsHuman Factors CouncilsHuman Factors BoardsHuman Factors Boards

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

Human Factors CouncilsHuman Factors CouncilsHuman Factors BoardsHuman Factors Boards

PURPOSEPURPOSE

To provide a formal To provide a formal mechanism of human factors mechanism of human factors feedback to the COfeedback to the CO

To provide the CO with the To provide the CO with the information necessary to information necessary to make decisions regarding make decisions regarding the mishap potential of the mishap potential of personnelpersonnel

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

Human Factors CouncilsHuman Factors CouncilsHuman Factors BoardsHuman Factors Boards

GOALSGOALS

Identify potentially Identify potentially hazardous factors before hazardous factors before they become causal factors they become causal factors in a mishap.in a mishap.

Assist aviators in the Assist aviators in the recognition and successful recognition and successful elimination of these safety elimination of these safety hazards.hazards.

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

Human Factors CouncilsHuman Factors Councils

Informal and quarterly (USN) or Informal and quarterly (USN) or monthly (USMC) review of all monthly (USMC) review of all aircrewaircrew

Chaired by the COChaired by the CO

Recommended composition: CO, Recommended composition: CO, ASO, ASO, Flight Surgeon, Operations/Training Flight Surgeon, Operations/Training Officer, Junior Officer, Leading Officer, Junior Officer, Leading Chief/MCPOC or enlisted aircrewChief/MCPOC or enlisted aircrew

No unrelated business shall be No unrelated business shall be discusseddiscussed

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

Human Factors CouncilsHuman Factors Councils

Strictly confidential and not Strictly confidential and not to be used in disciplinary to be used in disciplinary actionaction

CO may defer discussion of CO may defer discussion of detailed sensitive, personal, detailed sensitive, personal, or professional matters to a or professional matters to a more appropriate forummore appropriate forum

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

HFC Assessment ProcessHFC Assessment Process

Operations: Provide flight data for Operations: Provide flight data for documentation as neededdocumentation as needed

OPTEMPOOPTEMPOIndividual flight time summariesIndividual flight time summaries

Training: Provide data to assessTraining: Provide data to assessAircrew qualifications and Aircrew qualifications and professional progressprofessional progressNATOPS/instrument/physiology NATOPS/instrument/physiology survival swims quals/upgradessurvival swims quals/upgrades

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

HFC Assessment ProcessHFC Assessment Process

All members should discuss the All members should discuss the following as related to each following as related to each individual:individual:

Skills and QualificationsSkills and QualificationsSystems Knowledge Systems Knowledge Aircrew Coordination Aircrew Coordination PerformancePerformanceProfessional DisciplineProfessional DisciplineRisk-taking BehaviorRisk-taking BehaviorCareer DevelopmentCareer Development

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

HFC Assessment ProcessHFC Assessment Process

Critical Assessment ProcessCritical Assessment ProcessDeclining performance: failure to Declining performance: failure to meet required standards or meet required standards or qualifications processqualifications processKnown violations or instances of Known violations or instances of poor flight disciplinepoor flight disciplinePresence of major job or life Presence of major job or life stressorsstressors

Recommended Action - shall not be Recommended Action - shall not be disciplinary in naturedisciplinary in nature

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

Human Factors BoardsHuman Factors Boards

Convened for cause by the COConvened for cause by the CO Focused reviews of an Focused reviews of an

individualindividual Shall provide a plan of actionShall provide a plan of action Composed of the Executive Composed of the Executive

Officer (chairman), Flight Officer (chairman), Flight Surgeon, ASO School Surgeon, ASO School graduate, and another graduate, and another experienced officer experienced officer

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

Human Factors BoardsHuman Factors Boards

If enlisted member is subject, a senior enlisted shall be a member

Members from outside command may be used

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

HFB Assessment ProcessHFB Assessment Process

Notify individual that HFB will be Notify individual that HFB will be convenedconvenedIdentify specific problem areas to Identify specific problem areas to be consideredbe consideredPresence of aircrew under review is Presence of aircrew under review is requiredrequiredDocument performance deficiencies Document performance deficiencies and recommend to CO an and recommend to CO an appropriate course of actionappropriate course of action

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

THE FNAEB/FNFOEBTHE FNAEB/FNFOEBAdministrative Boards convened to Administrative Boards convened to evaluate performance, potential and evaluate performance, potential and motivationmotivationConvened by superior in command:Convened by superior in command:

Faulty judgement in flight Faulty judgement in flight situationssituationsLack of general skillLack of general skillHabits, traits, tendencies that Habits, traits, tendencies that make his/her flight status make his/her flight status questionablequestionableMinimum flying requirements not Minimum flying requirements not metmetQuestionable AAQuestionable AA

FNAEB: Three pilots and FSFNAEB: Three pilots and FSFNFOEB: Three NFOs and FSFNFOEB: Three NFOs and FS

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

FNAEB/FNFOEB OutcomesFNAEB/FNFOEB Outcomes

Type A: Continuation in flight Type A: Continuation in flight statusstatus

A1: Retain in present duty A1: Retain in present duty assignmentassignmentA3: Transfer to another activity A3: Transfer to another activity not within same command not within same command operating same or different operating same or different aircraftaircraftA4: Probationary flight status A4: Probationary flight status (with appropriate Type B (with appropriate Type B associated)associated)

Type B: Termination of flight Type B: Termination of flight statusstatus

B1:Retention of right to wear B1:Retention of right to wear insigniainsigniaB2:Revocation of insigniaB2:Revocation of insignia

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

THE “AT RISK” AVIATORTHE “AT RISK” AVIATOR

Below average nugget or Below average nugget or New transition aviatorNew transition aviator

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

THE “AT RISK” AVIATORTHE “AT RISK” AVIATOR

Below average nugget or Below average nugget or New transition aviatorNew transition aviator Overconfident senior aviatorOverconfident senior aviator

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

THE “AT RISK” AVIATORTHE “AT RISK” AVIATOR

Below average nugget or Below average nugget or New transition aviatorNew transition aviator Overconfident senior aviatorOverconfident senior aviator “ “Best pilot”Best pilot”

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

THE “AT RISK” AVIATORTHE “AT RISK” AVIATOR

Below average nugget or Below average nugget or New transition aviatorNew transition aviator Overconfident senior aviatorOverconfident senior aviator “ “Best pilot”Best pilot” Persistent poor performerPersistent poor performer

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

THE “AT RISK” AVIATORTHE “AT RISK” AVIATOR

Below average nugget or Below average nugget or New transition aviatorNew transition aviator Overconfident senior aviatorOverconfident senior aviator “ “Best pilot”Best pilot” Persistent poor performerPersistent poor performer Overstressed aviatorOverstressed aviator

USMC Rotary Wing, 1997USMC Rotary Wing, 1997

““Whenever we talk about a pilot who has been Whenever we talk about a pilot who has been killed in a flying accident, we should all keep one killed in a flying accident, we should all keep one thing in mind. He...made a judgment. He thing in mind. He...made a judgment. He believed in it so strongly that he knowingly bet believed in it so strongly that he knowingly bet his life on it. That his judgment was faulty is a his life on it. That his judgment was faulty is a tragedy,... Every instructor, supervisor, and tragedy,... Every instructor, supervisor, and contemporary who ever spoke to him had the contemporary who ever spoke to him had the opportunity to influence his judgement, so a opportunity to influence his judgement, so a little bit of all of us goes with every pilot we little bit of all of us goes with every pilot we lose.”lose.”

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