Human Factors - SM4 Safety Articles & Resources
Fruit Flies, Circadian Rhythms, and Fatigue Risk Management
Recently, it was announced that this year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to three scientists for their research on biological clocks and 24-hour circadian rhythms. Although their experiments were…
Pavlov’s Dogs Had it Right
Note: In the 1890s, a Russian psychologist named Ivan Pavlov noticed that his dogs began salivating even before they were presented with their food—his mere entrance into their room triggered…
Why is it ALWAYS the Pilot’s Fault?
Read any given NTSB accident investigation and you will find that the pilot is at least partially responsible for the accident. If it is not the pilot’s stick and rudder…
How to Address the Top 4 Challenges Faced by Most Flight Departments
If your flight department operates one-to-three aircraft, you’re likely facing resource constraints. And depending on how you manage them, they can make or break your operating success. Because a lack…
You Can’t Handle the Truth!
Lt Kaffee: “I want the truth!” Col Jessep: “You can’t handle the truth!” That’s the famous interchange from the movie “A Few Good Men” when the characters played by Jack…
Centers of Gravity (Living Ones)
Pilots are all familiar with the concept of center of gravity (CG), the fulcrum point around which thrust, drag, lift and gravity work. We know that if this point moves,…
How Many Flight Crew are Needed to Operate Safely?
The topic of appropriate pilot and flight attendant staffing levels can be a delicate, even emotional, subject. Virtually every business aviation leader struggles with answering: “How many maintenance technicians, pilots…
Crushing Groupthink in Pursuit of Safety: A Case Study
I recently had the wonderfully unique experience of working with a group of experts who didn’t give a damn about hurting each other’s feelings. The team was tasked to produce…
A Source of Stability Amidst a Torrent of Change
Our industry is on the bow wave of some of the greatest change in the last 50 years. Tens of thousands of new pilots and maintenance professionals are entering the…
