Citation

Stanton NA, Plant KL, Revell KMA, Griffin TGC, Moffatt S, Stanton M. Ergonomics 2019; 62(2): 138-155.

Affiliation

Human Factors Engineering, Transportation Research Group, Civil, Maritime, Environmental Engineering and Science, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment , Boldrewood Innovation Campus, Burgess Road, University of Southampton , SO16 7QF , UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00140139.2018.1520917

PMID

30192716

Abstract

The network analysis method, Event Analysis of Systemic Teamwork (EAST), was used to examine routine aviation operations from multiple perspectives form six key areas (i.e., Dispatch, ATC, ATM, Maintenance, Loading, and the Cockpit). Data was collected over a five-day observational field trial at an international air cargo operator. Researchers recorded the activities of agents operating within the six key areas over three outbound and two inbound flights. Three networks (i.e., social, information and task) were created for four key phases of flight: (i) pre-flight checks and engines start (ii) taxi, take-off and assent, (iii) descent, landing and taxi, and (iv) park and shut down. The networks represent a 'work audit' of short-haul cargo operations, which enabled a detailed understanding of the interactions and connections within the current system. Implications for the future of distributed crewing concepts are discussed. Practitioner summary: An analysis of the aviation system was undertaken using the amalgamated data from three outbound and two inbound flights. These analyses show the social, information and task interactions for cargo operations. This has been used to specify requirements for future distributed crewing options.

Language: en

Keywords

EAST method; Networks; System of systems; aviation; distributed cognition