RE: Research and development

Chappell, Sherry (Sherry.Chappell_at_transquest.com)
Mon, 17 Feb 1997 15:46:37 -0500


John and Vince,
You are making the assumption that the funding agencies are targeting
the line pilots in their research. Having been a government scientist
for 17 years, I think that assumption is incorrect in most cases. Much
of the research that is accomplished which is applicable to your needs
is 'boot-legged' from other programs by researchers who are listening to
you. You have to first sell the people with the purse strings on the
idea that they should do research on flight operations, then worry about
the nature of that research.
Sherry Chappell

Sherry L. Chappell, Ph.D.
TransQuest, Dept. 906
Atlanta, GA 30354-1801 USA
phone 404-773-8820, fax 040-773-8865
Sherry.Chappell_at_TransQuest.com

> ----------
> From: Vince Mancuso[SMTP:70232.1005_at_CompuServe.COM]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 11, 1997 5:04 PM
> To: crm developers group
> Subject: Research and development
>
>
>
> John States:
> ______________________________
> Dr. Hendy is doing the sort of research line pilots reallly need. The
> subject
> matter has been overlooked in research funding. UAL is doing some good
> work
> in the planning stages of better training in Captain skills. That
> effort is
> to be applauded, but we need more research in this important area.
>
> Dr. Hendy has said in the past there are two evolving issues:
> Captaincy and
> Resource Management. Much of the latest, great research has not
> reached the
> line pilot. We need to work together to develop ways to deliver the
> material.
>
> JOHNT767_at_aol.com
> APA National Training Committee
> _______________________________
>
> I think you bring up two very important points:
>
> 1: Is the research that is being funded what line pilots and line
> managers
> need?
>
> 2: Are the findings being translated and communicated in a way that
> line
> pilots, instructors and evaluators can use?
>
>
> Regarding point number 1, it was traditional for CRM and Human Factors
> managers
> at Airlines to be individuals without formal academic backgrounds in
> human
> factors. It was also common that the researchers had to help the
> airline
> managers define testable hypotheses for research. The aviation human
> factors
> research culture that emerged was one where researchers began
> approaching the
> airline managers and practitioners with their own hypotheses rather
> than
> practitioners crafting their own research priorities, finding the
> appropriate
> researcher for the work, and collectively asking the appropriate
> agencies to
> fund research that matches airline priorities. Over the past few
> years, the
> practitioners have become much more saavy about identifying research
> priorities.
> I think that this forum can be an effective medium for collectively
> listing and
> prioritizing these research needs.
>
> There is a great quote from Peter Drucker's Book "Innovation and
> Entrepreneurship" that speaks to this issue. He states on page 66:
>
> "Behind the incongruity between actual and perceived reality, there
> always lies
> an element of intellectual arrogance, of intellectual rigor and
> dogmatism. 'It
> is I, not they, who know .....' This explains why the incongruity is
> so easily
> exploited by innovators: they are left alone and undisturbed."
>
> Regarding point number 2, there are many opportunities to establish
> "methods-oriented" tiger teams to explore innovative ways to
> effectively
> translate good science into practice. I believe that the development
> of
> prototype methods can be another effective use of this group's
> collective
> talent.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Vince Mancuso
>
>
>
>
>