Re: The name of the game

charles gonzalez (cgonzale_at_kalitta.com)
Tue, 12 May 1998 13:42:50 -0400


suggestion: ARM (AIRCREW RESOURCE MANAGEMENT)
SINCE, THE FAA WILL ENCOMPASS FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, DISPATCHERS, ETC...IN YEARS TO
COME...THIS IS WHAT WE'VE COME
UP WITH...A SORT OF COMPROMISE BETWEEN CRM AND THE NEW
MANDATES. SECONDLY, ARM IMPLIES MOBILITY AND STRENGTH-
WE KINDA LIKE IT! JUST AN IDEA.

Sakuma_at_BDZ.crane.jal.co.jp wrote:

> Dear Mike :
> I agree with some of your flight crew who are violently opposed to the current
> CRM program being "psychologically manipulated". I suppose they cannot find out
> how the current CRM program is related to the occurrences of real oparational
> world. One of the reasons why may be that we do not have any powerful
> methodology for investigating human factors aspect of aviation
> accidents/incidents. For example, neither aviation psychologists nor
> technitians( pilot, engineer ) can properly identify why the airplane was
> directed to the north( mountain side ) insted of the south and the flight crew
> were not aware of the wrong heading until the last moment in the Thai Air A310
> accident at Kathmandu on July 31, 1992. If we could develop a practical CRM
> program based upon the well established HF investigation process, your flight
> crew would understand the importance and effectivity of the CRM program and
> would be glad to accept it. Now we need real HF specialists who have sufficient
> knowledge and intelligence in both hard and soft sciences related to the
> aviation business. I think the acronym "CRM" is the best terminology which
> could be generally accepted not only in the aviation but also in other
> socio-technical industries.
>
> Hidetake Sakuma, Corporate Safety, JAL
>
> > Hello group,
> > In a posting earlier this week I mentioned that we were developing a CRM
> > program for a small flight department consisting of 8 very experienced
> > Captains, and that at least two of them were violently opposed to being
> > "psychologically manipulated at some darn touchy-feely, feel-good
> > seminar." (The exact words from one suggestion card submitted to the
> > chief pilot.) Talk about a tough audience!
> > By the way, I can identify with this person's feelings, because the
> > first CRM-type training I attended (some time in the late 1970's as I
> > recall) fit the "touchy-feely..." description perfectly. At that time
> > it was called the "Captain's Seminar" or the "First Officer's Seminar,"
> > and, though it was well intended, I'm afraid it produced more antagonism
> > toward the program than positive operational effect.
> > Captains and first officers did not attend common seminars, and second
> > officers were not included at all!!! One of the reluctant captains in
> > this flight department, may have attended one of those same seminars,
> > and, if he did, he obviously hasn't forgotten.
> > I think we have found a way to overcome the obvious reluctance exhibited
> > by some members of this group:
> > 1. Each of the pilots has been invited to participate in developing the
> > program by suggesting program content and mode of presentation. And we
> > will be certain that each captain who participates will recognize at
> > least some of what he suggested.
> > 2. We are abandoning the acronym "CRM" entirely. The program will be
> > called the "###### Flight Department Safety Program" or "Flight
> > Standards Program" or something similar. We are also going to ask them
> > to name the program.
> > 3. For this group the program will be procedure and technique oriented
> > and will avoid theory. Fortunately, we are also helping to develop a
> > new operations manual for the department, and the "safety program" can
> > be blended into the department's operational culture and procedures.
> > (As, of course, it should be.)
> > 4. Even though we are staying away from anything theoretical, we can
> > certainly explain why a particular technique or procedure works or
> > doesn't work. That way, we can back our way into some useful theory (I
> > hope). That's not psychological manipulation, is it?
> > Anyway, perhaps we can teach some old dogs some new tricks, and they
> > will undoubtedly teach us some too.
> > Also, we're still looking for some really basic videos about crew
> > coordination and multi-pilot operating techniques if anyone runs across
> > anything for complete beginners.
> > Mike Courtney