Cockpit Communication and Aircraft Safety: An Empirical Study

Abstract

Several investigators have recently put forward the possibility that members of the flight crew may have been aware of problems before accidents, but that difficulties in communication may have prevented them from taking appropriate corrective actions. This has led to an' increased interest in the process of cockpit communication and the group dynamics of flight crews. Although early studies have been useful; nonetheless, the study of cockpit communication is still relatively undeveloped. Accordingly, the present study was designed as a preliminary effort to identify the principle concepts which control cockpit communication. The study consisted of two phases. In the first phase twenty-four in depth interviews were conducted with flight crews of general aviation aircraft. The major concepts identified in these unstructured interviews were then incorporated into a very precise Galileo(tm) type questionnaire which was administered to additional flight crews. Although this study should be considered preliminary, several strategies for improving cockpit communication were identified. Should further research confirm the usefulness of these types of strategies, they might be appropriately included in flight crew training programs to increase the likelihood that flight crew members would report unusual or hazardous circumstances early enough for corrective actions to be taken.