Advanced CRM topics
CRMDEEN_at_aol.com
Wed, 23 Jul 1997 20:42:16 -0400 (EDT)
We are opening into an area I've attempted several times. Here's some
experience:
Three years ago, we embarked into the most comprehensive and standardized
CRM training program I'd ever had the pleasure to be involved with. Part of
that program was the "crew self-evaluation" following a MOST (LOFT) mission.
I provided the crew and instructors with "debriefing guides" that were a
clear match to the academic language taught in the class prior to the
mission. This form even has the LLC-4 grading scale on it. My hope was that
the crew would recognize their application, or lack of, the academic
discussions, and be willing to "grade" themselves.
The result was a wall of fatigue and apathy. When the crew came out of
the sim, they just wanted to sit with their hands in their lap and listen
(for a short time) to the instructor give his opinions of their performance.
Many asked me "how did we do?" When I tried to get them to evaluate
themselves, they simply said, "we lived, the mission is complete, we did the
best we could, etc.etc. etc." Many did not even remember the definitions of
the terms, having discussed them six hour previously. The day was getting
long, close to 9 hours, and they just wanted to go home. I guess the
tradition of quick departure after the flight was too strong to overcome, and
the "debriefings" fizzled out.
Now, three years later, I've picked up new complaints: the talk is
"old". After hearing the same words and seeing the same slides for three
years, the crews are screaming for "new" stuff. I guess there is only a
three year life span on courseware.
So we are now introducing "in-depth" accident analysis, case studies.
Unfortunately, we have had a few incidents of late that produced some "new"
stories, and the causes are current in the minds of the line aviators.
To test the connection, I experimented with one of the old and dusty
"crew evaluation" forms for the case study, and voila! The crew understood
the language and could relate the form to a flight.
Perhaps the lesson here is to have a plan and be very, very, very
patient for the crews to come around.
Greg Deen
HTI