1. Can CRM be taught through computers, on-line, etc.? ONLY the
terminology, and the knowledge. I do not believe that "Attitude", the
demonstrated commitment to actually DO the skills, can be simply "read" about.
People learn by doing. Reading and Doing are not the same. If it were, we
would not need simulators, or flight instructors. A seminar, well
facilitated, that brings out thorough discussions will come closer to
"internalizing" the skills.
Just today, I began a seminar that was way-too crowded due to some
scheduling mistakes, and one of the students had had CRM in the Navy, the Army
and some commercial jobs. After the second hour, he told me this was the best
class he's been to because we were DISCUSSING the activities inside an
airplane, rather than just reading a rule or a story. Also in this class, are
some loadmasters, all of 18 years old with 30 flying hours to their name. One
of the more senior aviators in the class is a Lt Col. pilot with 5000 hours. I
asked the young loadmaster if he would have a concern if the pilot began to
fly the airplane beyond minimun fuel reserves. He said yes. I then asked him,
there in the class, to look at the pilot and tell him so. He looked at the
pilot, and then looked at me and said, "I can't do that". The pilot then told
me he had better learn to do this, because pilots make errors, and they need,
and expect ,even the youngest on the crew to challenge them.
I don't know how we would have gotten that intense "face-off" through a
computer.
2. Those who think "CRM" should have a name change just because the effects
seem minimal, or remember some class that they didn't understand, should be
reminded that one visit to the CRM doctor does not cure the disease. We are
in the business of behaviour modification, and that takes a consistent,
repetitive, program.
I have seen the rise and fall of CRM programs. There is a definate cycle to
them.
a. Accidents are happening.
b. What's wrong?, someone asks.
c. Crew coordination is faulty.
d. Let's go get us some of that stuff.
e. CRM program begins.
f. Accident rates come down.
g. Accident rates stay at an "acceptable" level for a few years.
h. Problem is solved, let's spend our time and money elsewhere.
i. CRM disappears from the budget
k. CRM disappears from the classroom
l. CRM disappears from the airplane.
m. Accident rate goes up.
Get the picture? I think the greatest challenge to a CRM program is the
success of the program, or the "apparent" success.
3. And as for the true "clients" of the CRM program? It is not the
aviators, themselves. They CHOOSE to take the risk of flying. I teach CRM for
an audience other than the crewmembers, who don't have the choice. Consider
those who are the true beneficiaries of our programs, or the victims of not
having a quality program.
Raise your sights, folks. Someone else needs this training to be better
than it is.
Greg Deen
Raytheon