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Crew resource management: a simulator study comparing fixed versus formed aircrews.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1996 Jan; 67(1):3-7.AS

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Most airline and military transport planes are flown by crews that have been teamed together for a short amount of time before disbanding and becoming part of a different crew (formed crew concept). Some military operations use a fixed crew concept, pairing crewmembers together for an indefinite period. This research investigated the effect of crew formation policy on aircrew performance during missions in U.S. Air Force KC-135 (tanker) simulators.

METHOD

The performance of fixed aircrews is compared to formed aircrews flying the same simulator mission scenario, which included an in-flight emergency. Cockpit resource management (CRM) behavioral data and error data were collected by trained observers for 17 crews (9 fixed and 8 formed).

RESULTS

The results show that fixed crews committed more minor errors (4.4 per mission) than formed crews (2.6 per mission), t(14) = 2.32, p = 0.036. No differences were found concerning major errors or CRM behavioral indicators.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest the possibility of a "familiarity decline," where aircrew performance declines when crewmembers become too familiar with each other and may affect flight safety.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Barker JM
Department of Behavioral Sciences, United States Air Force Academy, CO 80840-6228, USA.
Clothier CC
No affiliation info available
Woody JR
No affiliation info available
McKinney EH
No affiliation info available
Brown JL
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Accidents, AviationAdultAviationCommunicationEfficiencyHumansMilitary PersonnelPersonnel Staffing and SchedulingSafetyTime FactorsUnited States

Pub Type(s)

Case Reports
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

8929198

Citation

Barker, J M., et al. "Crew Resource Management: a Simulator Study Comparing Fixed Versus Formed Aircrews." Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, vol. 67, no. 1, 1996, pp. 3-7.
Barker JM, Clothier CC, Woody JR, et al. Crew resource management: a simulator study comparing fixed versus formed aircrews. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1996;67(1):3-7.
Barker, J. M., Clothier, C. C., Woody, J. R., McKinney, E. H., & Brown, J. L. (1996). Crew resource management: a simulator study comparing fixed versus formed aircrews. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 67(1), 3-7.
Barker JM, et al. Crew Resource Management: a Simulator Study Comparing Fixed Versus Formed Aircrews. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1996;67(1):3-7. PubMed PMID: 8929198.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Crew resource management: a simulator study comparing fixed versus formed aircrews. AU - Barker,J M, AU - Clothier,C C, AU - Woody,J R, AU - McKinney,E H,Jr AU - Brown,J L, PY - 1996/1/1/pubmed PY - 2001/3/28/medline PY - 1996/1/1/entrez SP - 3 EP - 7 JF - Aviation, space, and environmental medicine JO - Aviat Space Environ Med VL - 67 IS - 1 N2 - BACKGROUND: Most airline and military transport planes are flown by crews that have been teamed together for a short amount of time before disbanding and becoming part of a different crew (formed crew concept). Some military operations use a fixed crew concept, pairing crewmembers together for an indefinite period. This research investigated the effect of crew formation policy on aircrew performance during missions in U.S. Air Force KC-135 (tanker) simulators. METHOD: The performance of fixed aircrews is compared to formed aircrews flying the same simulator mission scenario, which included an in-flight emergency. Cockpit resource management (CRM) behavioral data and error data were collected by trained observers for 17 crews (9 fixed and 8 formed). RESULTS: The results show that fixed crews committed more minor errors (4.4 per mission) than formed crews (2.6 per mission), t(14) = 2.32, p = 0.036. No differences were found concerning major errors or CRM behavioral indicators. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest the possibility of a "familiarity decline," where aircrew performance declines when crewmembers become too familiar with each other and may affect flight safety. SN - 0095-6562 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/8929198/Crew_resource_management:_a_simulator_study_comparing_fixed_versus_formed_aircrews_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -