Human Factors for Aviation Personnel [e-learning] (4 hours of study)
This course is recommended for ‘All Aviation Personnel — Flight Crew, Maintenance Technicians, Air Traffic Controllers, Ground Handling Staff and Aviation Managers’
Human Factors is the science of understanding human performance and its limitations in the aviation environment. This interactive course will guide aviation personnel through the fundamental principles of Human Factors — from perception and decision-making to crew resource management, fatigue, error management and safety culture — ensuring you are equipped to recognize human limitations, manage risk and perform your role safely and effectively.
Most Aviation Accidents Are Not Caused By Aircraft.
They Are Caused By People.
Over 70% of aviation accidents involve human error as a contributing factor. This is not about blaming individuals — it is about understanding how humans think, perceive, decide and communicate under pressure. And then designing systems and behaviours that account for those limitations.
What ICAO Doc 9683 Says
Human Factors training is not optional. ICAO requires all aviation personnel to understand human performance limitations — from flight crew and maintenance technicians to air traffic controllers and ground handlers.
What This Course Gives You
The SHELL model, Swiss Cheese, TEM, CRM, fatigue management, situational awareness and just culture — the complete Human Factors toolkit for every aviation professional.
70%+
Of Accidents
Involve human error
SHELL
Model
ICAO's core HF framework
Doc 9683
ICAO
Regulatory basis
Built in accordance with ICAO Doc 9683, ICAO Doc 9859 and ICAO Annex 19 — for all aviation personnel categories.
Objectives of the Human Factors for Aviation Personnel training
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Explain the SHELL model and the role of Human Factors in aviation safety
- Identify the main causes of human error in aviation operations
- Apply the Reason Model — Swiss Cheese — to understand accident causation
- Recognize the effects of fatigue, stress and workload on human performance
- Apply effective communication and crew coordination principles
- Recognize the impact of organizational culture on human performance
- Apply situational awareness principles to your operational role
- Contribute to a positive safety culture in your organization
Key Topics
- Introduction to Human Factors — why it matters in aviation
- The SHELL Model — Software, Hardware, Environment, Liveware
- Human error — types, causes and consequences
- The Reason Model — Swiss Cheese Model of accident causation
- Perception and attention — how humans process information
- Memory — types, limitations and implications for aviation
- Decision-making — models, biases and error-prone situations
- Situational awareness — Endsley’s model and loss of SA
- Stress — physiological and psychological effects on performance
- Communication — barriers, active listening and assertiveness
- Organizational factors and safety culture
- Just culture — reporting without blame
Target Audience
- Flight crew — pilots and cabin crew
- Aircraft maintenance technicians and engineers
- Air traffic controllers
- Ground handling and ramp personnel
- Aviation managers and supervisors
- Safety and quality officers
- All aviation personnel required to complete Human Factors training
Human Factors for Aviation Personnel course format
- 100% online, self-paced e-learning
- 4 hours to complete
- Interactive content with scenario-based exercises and case studies
- Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox for best experience
- Performance assessed via final exam
Recommended Level
- Entry-level to Intermediate
- No prior Human Factors knowledge required
- Suitable for all aviation personnel categories
Exam Information
- Unsupervised online exam, taken at your convenience
- 30 multiple choice questions
- 60 minutes to complete
- Passing grade: 80% correct answers
- 2 attempts allowed
Certificate Awarded
Upon successful completion of the Human Factors for Aviation Personnel training you will receive an Octans Training Certificate of Completion available to download and print for your records.
- 6 Sections
- 32 Lessons
- 4 Hours
- Module 1 — Introduction to Human Factors4
- Module 2 — Human Error5
- Module 3 — Human Performance and Limitations7
- 3.1Lesson 3.1 — Perception — how we see and interpret information
- 3.2Lesson 3.2 — Attention — selective attention and inattentional blindness
- 3.3Lesson 3.3 — Memory — working memory, long-term memory and forgetting
- 3.4Lesson 3.4 — Decision-making — naturalistic and analytical models
- 3.5Lesson 3.5 — Cognitive biases — confirmation bias, plan continuation bias
- 3.6Lesson 3.6 — Situational awareness — Endsley’s three levels
- 3.7Lesson 3.7 — Loss of situational awareness — causes and recovery
- Module 4 — Fatigue and Stress6
- 4.1Lesson 4.1 — Fatigue — definition, causes and effects on performance
- 4.2Lesson 4.2 — Circadian rhythm and shift work
- 4.3Lesson 4.3 — Fatigue Risk Management Systems (FRMS)
- 4.4Lesson 4.4 — Stress — physiological and psychological effects
- 4.5Lesson 4.5 — Workload — high workload and low workload risks
- 4.6Lesson 4.6 — Strategies for managing fatigue and stress
- Module 5 — Communication and Crew Coordination6
- 5.1Lesson 5.1 — Communication — the process and its barriers
- 5.2Lesson 5.2 — Active listening and closed-loop communication
- 5.3Lesson 5.3 — Assertiveness — speaking up in aviation
- 5.4Lesson 5.4 — Crew Resource Management (CRM) — principles and application
- 5.5Lesson 5.5 — Threat and Error Management (TEM) framework
- 5.6Lesson 5.6 — Leadership and followership in aviation teams
- Module 6 — Organizational Factors and Safety Culture5
- 6.1Lesson 6.1 — Organizational culture and its impact on human performance
- 6.2Lesson 6.2 — Just culture — reporting without blame
- 6.3Lesson 6.3 — Safety culture — principles and measurement
- 6.4Lesson 6.4 — Human Factors in SMS — integration and application
- 6.5Human Factors for Aviation Personnel – Final Examination0 Questions
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