Citation about (Aircraft) Design and Human Factors

[Badente]

I'm searching the internet for a citation I read some time ago (most probably here on PPRuNe) regarding the human factor in aircraft / machinery design. Unfortunately I seem to feed the wrong words into the search engine as my memories are very vague.

If I remember correctly it was attributed to NASA and included best design practices in two or three steps to avoid the possibility of errors being made in the final product by the crew / operator. The last but least desirable solution was implementing a "workaround" a.k.a. procedure.

Please bear with me as I'm aware that this is not a strict Flight Testing topic. I'm hoping to reach the "right" audience in here as I see it closely related. Any help of you, the knowledgable flight testing community, would be highly appreciated.

[safetypee]

Try http://www.pprune.org/tech-log/481350-man-machine-interface-anomalies.html
or
CS 25.1302 and AMC 25.1302
http://www.easa.eu.int/agency-measures/docs/certification-specifications/CS-25/CS-25%20Amendment%2011.pdf

or even this for ideas
http://www.ida.liu.se/~eriho/images/CSAPC99_Accidents_Barriers.pdf

[Armchairflyer]

Maybe some publications by Asaf Degani (et al.) are helpful to you.
Asaf Degani - Human-Automation Interact (http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/profile/adegani/human-automation-interaction/)
Asaf Degani - Interface Design (http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/profile/adegani/formal-aspects-of-interface-design/)
Asaf Degani - Procedure Design (http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/profile/adegani/procedure-design/)
Asaf Degani - Aviation Safety (http://ti.arc.nasa.gov/profile/adegani/aviation-safety/)

BTW, you might also want to post your query in the Safety, CRM, QA etc. section: http://www.pprune.org/safety-crm-qa-emergency-response-planning-93/.

[aerolearner]

The closest I can think of right now is the "Accident Prevention Loop", introduced by Alan E. Diehl in 1989. The Accident Prevention Loop is the main subject of his paper "Human Performance Aspects of Aircraft Accidents", published as Chapter 15 of the book "Aviation Psychology" edited by Richard S. Jensen.

Just to give a general idea, the loop is made of three phases, named "Accident Generation", "Investigation Process" and "Preventive Measures".
http://www.airmanshiponline.com/20-06-3002/img/Image102.gif
Basically, according to this loop model, the events (Hazards, Incidents and Accidents) that happen in the "Accident Generation" phase are investigated through an "Investigation Process" consisting of fact-finding, analysis and board review, so that "Preventive Measures" can be put in place.

Speaking of "Preventive Measures", Diehl gives the following taxonomy:
http://www.airmanshiponline.com/20-06-3002/img/Image107.gif
Going from right to left, the measures become easier to implement but less effective.
The measures can be:

Environment oriented: very expensive, effective and restrictive
ELIMINATE HAZARDS & RISKS: strict policy matters affecting the operational environment (e.g. no Single-Engine IFR public transport)
Machine oriented: moderately expensive, effective and restrictive
INCORPORATE SAFETY FEATURES: integral safety features in aircraft products (e.g. stall-proof design)
PROVIDE WARNING DEVICES: usually less expensive, effective and restrictive of the above. E.g. stall warning horns
Man oriented: less expensive, effective and restrictive
ESTABLISH PROCEDURAL SAFEGUARDS: checklists, SOPs, personnel selection standards, training, motivational campaigns, policy statements...

According to Diehl, "this taxonomy reflects well established system safety concepts" (e.g. MIL-STD-882 (http://www.faa.gov/library/manuals/aviation/risk_management/ss_handbook/media/app_h_1200.PDF)).

Did I get the point of your question? Was it something more specifically related to the design?

BR,

aerolearner

[Linktrained]

David Beaty's 1969 book:

The Human Factor in Aircraft Accidents

( It may be listed as just "Human Factor")

You may find that this still deals with an unchanging part of your interest. Aircraft have altered more rapidly over the last decades, not Humans !

LT

[Badente]

Thank you for all the answers and all the interesting linked documentation. Now I got reading material for the rest of the year. Lots of new stuff to learn.

aerolearner found the source with Diehls taxonomy. Thank you! Now I'm trying to get hold of this idea written in a short, easy to understand paragraph. Thank you for your support.

Regards,
Badente