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Error containment in aircraft maintenance is not only a function of the individual worker, but also reflection of the on-going organizational activities and tasks (Harle, 1994), regardless whether that may encompass a shop of one person or several hundred workers. These organizational structures, general aviation shops or larger airline maintenance divisions, are not simple in nature, but take on complicated appearances - which require different and tailored patterns of responses for effective error management control. Purdue, in it’s applied human factors research of error control, has found some common effective approaches in small and large organizations that provide flexible starting points for growing solutions in reducing aircraft maintenance incidents.

In examining human factors issues relevant to the reduction of human error in the airline maintenance environment, it was discovered that facility design was a key factor in fostering effective and productive interaction among line maintenance technicians. Results of an observational study are reported and practical recommendations for line maintenance work station design are forwarded.

One of the most common barriers to the timely disposition of maintenance discrepancies involves communication difficulties between pilots and technicians. These barriers occur at virtually every operational level of the aviation industry from general aviation to airline. Well intentioned yet incomplete or misdirected communication often results not only in frustration, excessive down time, and recurrence of the problem, but also fosters unhealthy (and inaccurate) stereotypical notions about the overall competence of each group. This paper focuses on a two-phase study designed to identify which human factors impede pilot - mechanic communication and which factors promote pilot - mechanic communication. The project was coordinated by a joint faculty - student research team from the Department of Aviation Technology at Purdue University.