This thesis focuses on the impact of culture on the failure of crew resource management (CRM) in aviation. Three cultural aspects are used to identify what impact culture can have on the failure of CRM. Those three cultural aspects are safety culture, professional culture, and national culture. Furthermore, three case studies are brought as an example. They include the case of TransAsia Airways GE222, Garuda Indonesia GA200, and Korean Air 801.
On the 27th of March in 1977 many planes had to be diverted to other Canarian airports caused by a bomb exploding at the airport of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. One of those was the small airport of Los Rodeos on the island of Tenerife that got very crowded due to the number of planes that had to be diverted, resulting in the runway having to be used as a taxiway. Two of the planes stranded at the airport were flight KLM 4805 and flight PAA 1736.
When the bomb threat was lifted and the planes started to leave Los Rodeos, KLM 4805 was instructed to taxi down the runway, turn around, and then eventually take off. The PAA 1736 taxied the runway after the KLM 4805 and was instructed to leave the runway at exit three so the KLM 4805 could proceed with takeoff. The tower then cleared the KLM 4805 for takeoff but told them to stand by, as the PAA 1736 still maneuvered on the runway.
Because of a communication issue, the KLM 4 805 understood its conversation with the tower as a clearance to takeoff and proceeded down the runway where it collided with the PAA 1736. All 248 passengers on board KLM 4805 died and so did 335 passengers on the flight of PAA 1736, making it the deadliest commercial aviation accident to this date, all because of a pilot error.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- CRM
- What is CRM and how to define it
- The Failure of CRM
- Safety Culture
- Safety Culture and CRM
- Professional Pilot Culture
- Professional Pilot Culture and CRM
- National Culture
- National Culture and CRM
- Case Studies on Airplane Crashes
- TransAsia Airways GE222
- Garuda Indonesia GA200
- Korean Air 801
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- Implications for Practice
- Limitation
- References
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The main objective of this work is to understand the influence of cultural dimensions on the successful implementation of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in the aviation industry. The study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the existing literature on CRM and cultural factors, and then apply this theoretical framework to three aviation accident case studies. This research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how cultural differences can impact CRM practices and identify potential implications for the aviation industry.
- The effectiveness of CRM in preventing pilot errors
- Cultural influences on CRM implementation and practice
- The role of national and organizational culture in aviation safety
- Case studies of aviation accidents highlighting cultural factors
- Implications for improving CRM training and practices in a globalized aviation industry
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: The chapter introduces the topic of CRM and its role in aviation safety, focusing on the Tenerife airport disaster in 1977 as a prime example of a pilot error contributing to a fatal accident. It discusses the increasing importance of CRM in aviation, despite its limited success in reducing pilot errors.
- CRM: This chapter delves into the history of CRM, outlining its development from Cockpit Resource Management to Crew Resource Management. It highlights the evolution of CRM through various generations, emphasizing the shift from a top-down approach to a more group-focused and culturally sensitive approach.
- What is CRM and how to define it: This chapter provides a comprehensive definition of CRM and explores its core principles and components. It delves into the various aspects of CRM, including communication, decision-making, leadership, and teamwork, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach to CRM implementation.
- The Failure of CRM: This chapter examines the limitations and challenges of CRM, acknowledging its effectiveness in reducing pilot error but highlighting its failure to fully eliminate it. It discusses the various factors contributing to CRM failure, including cultural differences, organizational culture, and individual pilot characteristics.
- Safety Culture: This chapter focuses on the concept of safety culture and its crucial role in aviation safety. It explores different safety cultures and their impact on CRM implementation, emphasizing the need for a strong safety culture that encourages open communication, error reporting, and continuous improvement.
- Safety Culture and CRM: This chapter delves into the relationship between safety culture and CRM. It explores how a positive safety culture can enhance CRM effectiveness by fostering an environment of trust, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. Conversely, it examines how a negative safety culture can hinder CRM implementation and contribute to pilot errors.
- Professional Pilot Culture: This chapter investigates the unique professional pilot culture and its impact on CRM. It analyzes the specific norms, values, and beliefs within this culture and how they influence pilots' behavior, decision-making, and communication in the cockpit.
- Professional Pilot Culture and CRM: This chapter explores the relationship between professional pilot culture and CRM. It examines how cultural norms and values can either support or undermine CRM practices. It discusses potential challenges arising from cultural clashes within the cockpit, highlighting the need for culturally sensitive CRM training programs.
- National Culture: This chapter focuses on the concept of national culture and its impact on CRM implementation. It examines how cultural dimensions, such as individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance, influence pilot behavior and CRM practices across different countries.
- National Culture and CRM: This chapter explores the complex relationship between national culture and CRM. It investigates how cultural differences can impact CRM effectiveness and highlight the need for culturally tailored CRM programs that address specific national cultural norms and values.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This work explores the intricate relationship between Crew Resource Management (CRM) and cultural dimensions in the aviation industry. The study examines how cultural factors, including national culture, organizational culture, and professional pilot culture, influence the implementation and effectiveness of CRM practices. Key concepts explored include pilot error, safety culture, communication, decision-making, teamwork, and cultural dimensions like individualism vs. collectivism, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance. The research utilizes aviation accident case studies to illustrate the impact of cultural factors on CRM effectiveness.
- Quote paper
- Janina Klein (Author), 2021, Crew Resource Management and Cultural Dimensions in Aviation. Strengths and Risks, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1267267
