Managers’ conceptions regarding human factors in air traffic management and in airport operations

Human factors (HF) in creating and managing safety in complex systems is a continuous topic of research and discussion. In the aviation organisation under study here, an HF expert had started work in a newly created position one and a half years prior to the study. The aim of the study was to find out if HF was seen as a safety creating factor and what the conceptions of HF were in regard to the theoretical developments in the field. These topics were studied in order to determine the most effective means of implementing HF-work within the organisation. Two manager groups (upper and middle management) were targeted as subjects of the study due to their crucial role in developing working culture. Twenty-one managers were interviewed from nine units that represented three operational environments (radar units with heavy traffic, combined civil/military units and procedural air traffic control units, including airport operations. Managers were found to have disjointed and vague conceptions of HF and a lack of shared vision or strategy regarding HF. Some managers lacked an appropriate conception of HF. The present situation can prevent the organisation from utilizing HF competence in maintaining and developing the safety of services. Conceptions were most up-to-date at units, where outside pressures for change had forced managers to take HF issues into account in their operational environments. While the long-term implementation of HF faces considerable challenges, the article gives several proposals for organisational structures that support a more effective realization of HF.

Research highlights
► Twenty-one managers were interviewed from nine aviation organisation units.
► Managers were found to have disjointed conceptions of HF.
► The present situation can prevent the organisation from utilizing HF competence in maintaining and developing the safety of services.
► The article gives proposals for organisational structures that support the long-term implementation of HF and more effective realization of HF.