Course Description

This course focuses on the identification and management of the human errors that are encountered in all aspects of aircraft maintenance operations.  The course features presentations, interactive discussions, workshops, and data management procedures.

Research has shown that 60 - 80 percent of aviation accidents are attributed to human error. According to a survey of the literature, aircraft maintenance and inspection errors have contributed anywhere from 9 to 23 percent of these accidents. For example, approximately 20 to 30 percent of in-flight engine shutdowns are caused by maintenance errors. Depending on an organization’s cost structure, this can be as much as $500,000 for a single event.  Ground damage has been estimated at $70,000 per event while recent research indicates the actual operational costs may be six times higher. Commercial flight delays can cost a minimum of $10,000 per hour with cancellations costing $50,000 each.  In today’s competitive environment, unscheduled maintenance due to human error leads to lost revenue in a variety of forms.  Conservative estimates indicate maintenance errors cost commercial airlines approximately $2 billion annually. Like its commercial counterpart, military aviation operations face similar financial and budget constraints; however, monetary impact is only one measure of maintenance error.  Compromised operational readiness can impose both short and long-term challenges that can impact Search and Rescue, Logistics, Operational Support, National Readiness, and Humanitarian Efforts.

Who Should Attend

Maintenance managers, supervisors, lead technicians, accident investigators, and civil aviation authorities. Training, operational, non-technical, and quality control personnel will also find this course of high value

Personnel assigned to build, implement, revise, and manage aviation maintenance programs

Individuals who need to understand the human element in aviation maintenance operations and how human error and human limitations affect aviation maintenance

Those charged with developing and implementing safety programs in their maintenance organization to identify, prioritize, prevent and mitigate human error and its consequences

How You Will Benefit

• Obtain the tools required to implement human factors program elements into a comprehensive maintenance management system

• Enable decisions based on a "data-driven" approach to human factors in maintenance operations

• Understand maintenance human error and the "organizational accident chain" presented in the Safety Management Systems context

• Develop and implement intervention strategies

• Prioritize human errors in the context of Risk Management

• Enhance theoretical knowledge through case studies and practical applications

• Identify what causes human error, how it’s identified through data collection, and the measures that can be used for error reduction and management

• Upon course completion, the maintenance professional will possess the knowledge and tools necessary to integrate human performance concepts into their operation.

• This course is accepted by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals for Continuance of Certification credit.

• This course counts for the Certificate in Safety Management Systems granted by SCSI.

• SCSI will award 3.6 CEUs to each participant who successfully completes this course.

Course Topics

• Human Factors with a focus on Maintenance Related Activities and Occurrences
• Human Error challenges in the Maintenance Environment
• Threat and Error Management on the flight line and in the hangar
• The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) - Maintenance
• Fatigue Management Workshop including Shiftwork
• Fatigue Risk Management from an SMS paradigm
• Introduction to Maintenance Resource Management (MRM)
• Communication challenges in the Maintenance world
• Professional Development for the Maintenance Professional
• Workload and Taskload Management
• Safety Culture Workshop from theory to practical assessment tools
• Prevention and Intervention Strategies
• Safety Reporting and Data Management
• Case Studies

Course Schedule 

Course Instructor

Gary T Hook

Gary as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian Air Force served for more than 34 years.  He has been directly involved with aviation safety for more than 27 years and in fact received the Air Force’s highest commendation for his significant and lasting impact on influencing their safety culture.  He has developed an expertise in human factors, Maintenance and Crew Resource Management, Human Factors in Decision Making, Risk Management, leadership studies and communication; additionally he is a certified corporate facilitator for the Franklin-Covey workshops including the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and 4 Roles of Leadership.

As a pilot he has accumulated more than 5000 flying hours.  The majority of this time was spent on operational fighter tours in Europe (9 years) and Canada. His last assignment was as Commandant, Central Flying School.  In addition to serving as the Commander’s Senior Standards Eval officer for all flying training, he was also in charge of the Canadian Air Forces training for Human Performance in Military Aviation, a composite program that covers MRM, CRM and TRM.

As an instructor and facilitator he has extensive international experience with both civilian and military organizations, including:

• Completely redesigned the CF Air Force Safety Management System courses significantly enhancing the human factors and practical application of the material

• Served as the Commander's senior flight safety advisor for six years winning two commendations for his leadership and enhancement of the safety culture

• Developed and delivered the human factors and resource management section for the senior maintenance managers course

• On an annual basis, he facilitates a leadership workshop for all new Commanding Officers in the Air Force

• Developed and taught safety management systems courses to the NATO Airborne Early Warning Wing, Geilenkirchen, Germany, and the Royal Brunei Air Force, Brunei.

• Brought in to deliver a key note presentation at the United States Air Force Reserve CRM conference, 2003

Aside from his work with the Canadian Air Force, he has significant international experience teaching human factors, risk management, communication, leadership and organizational effectiveness.  A lead instructor with SCSI in the areas of safety management systems, human factors, organizational culture and witness interviewing; additionally he has a client base which includes KLM, FedEx, Alaska Air Carriers Association, Vancouver International Airport, and the National Energy Board of Canada.  He has also presented workshops at major international symposiums including the International Symposium in Aviation Psychology and the Canadian Aviation Safety Seminar.

Course Administration

Taught at the DoubleTree Hotel on the waterfront in San Pedro in Southern California, the HFMO Course consists of 4.5 days (36 hours) of instruction.  Students receive a textbook written by D. Wiegmann and S. Shappell, lecture outlines, additional reference material and a Certificate of Completion. Classes begin daily at 0800 and end at noon on Friday.

Typical Comments from Attendees

This is a new course.

Course Schedule, Location and Tuition

• Course Tuition
• See Course Schedule
• Contact SCSI Directly for Information