Implementing Business Aviation Crew Resource Management

According to the online ICAO safety tool ‘Advisory Circular — Crew Resource Management Training Programme (CRM)’, CRM training aims to develop a pilot’s knowledge and skills relating to human performance.

Based on the understanding that a high degree of technical competence is essential for safe and efficient operations, demonstrated mastery of CRM concepts cannot overcome incompetence within the cockpit, and, similarly, high technical competence cannot ensure safe operations in the absence of effective crew coordination.

The Concept of CRM in Business Aviation

According to FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 120-51D , investigations into the causes of air accidents have shown human error to be a contributing factor in between 60 and 80% of all air carrier incidents and accidents.

Long-term NASA research has shown that these events share common characteristics. Many problems encountered by flight crews have little to do with the technical aspects of operating in a multi-person cockpit. Instead, problems are associated with poor group decision making, ineffective communication, inadequate leadership, and poor management of tasks or resources.

“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the FAA, and many other parties have identified [Standard Operating Procedures] as a persistent element in these problems, which sometimes have led to accidents,” AC 120-51D says.

Industry and government are in agreement that training programs should place emphasis on the factors that influence crew coordination and the management of crew resources.

Experience shows that lasting behavioural changes cannot be achieved in a short time, even if the training is well executed. Trainees need awareness, practice, feedback, and continuous reinforcement. Therefore, to be effective CRM concepts must be consistently integrated into all aspects of training and operations, AC 120-51D says.

According to the ICAO safety tool, while there are various helpful methods in use in CRM training, certain essential elements of which are universal:

• CRM training is most effective within a training program centred on clear, comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• CRM training should focus on the functioning of crewmembers as teams, not as a collection of technically competent individuals. Wherever possible, pilots should be graded as a crew rather than as individuals.
• CRM training should instruct pilots how to behave in ways that foster crew effectiveness.
• CRM training should provide opportunities to practise the skills necessary to be effective team leaders and team members.

Good training for operations that are routine can have a highly positive effect on individuals’ functioning during periods of high workload or stress.

Although during emergency situations it’s unlikely that a crew member will take the time to reflect on their CRM training to choose appropriate behaviour, practising desirable behaviours during times of low stress increases the likelihood that emergencies will be handled effectively, notes AC 120-51D.

Effective CRM Training in Business Aviation

According to the ICAO safety tool, initial CRM training must be completed prior to commencing unsupervised line flying, except at times when the crew member has previously completed an initial operator’s CRM course.

Initial CRM training addresses the nature of the relevant Flight Department’s operations, as well as the associated procedures and culture of the department.

This includes the areas of operations which produce specific difficulties or involve adverse climatic conditions and any unusual hazards.

“Indoctrination/awareness typically consists of classroom presentations and focuses on communications and decision-making, interpersonal relations, crew coordination, leadership, and adherence to SOPs, among others,” AC 120-51D affirms.

“In this component of CRM training, the concepts are developed, defined, and related to the safety of line operations. This component also provides a common conceptual framework and a common vocabulary for identifying crew coordination problems.”

Effective awareness training increases understanding of CRM concepts, which, in turn, often favourably influences individual attitudes regarding human factors issues. Often training suggests more effective communication practices, too.

CRM training must also be included as a regular part of recurrent training requirements, according to AC 120-51D. “Recurrent CRM training should include classroom or briefing room refresher training to review and amplify CRM components, followed by practice and feedback exercises such as LOFT [line oriented flight training], preferably with taped feedback.

Alternatively, a suitable substitute such as role-playing in a flight training device and taped feedback is acceptable.

Regardless, it is recommended that recurrent CRM exercises take place with a full crew, each member operating in his or her normal crew position”, the AC concludes.

Over the following months we’ll review various CRM topics, exploring how each applies to a Business Aviation flight department environment.

References

1 ICAO, safety tool available ‘Advisory Circular — Crew Resource Management Training Programme (CRM), 2021.

2 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration, Advisory Circular (AC) 120-51D, Crew resource management training