The U.S. Navys aviation safety program: A critical review

Safety research has shown that human error, as opposed to mechanical failure, is a major causal factor in accidents in high-reliability organizations. In U.S. Naval aviation, human error accounts for more than 80% of mishaps. This paper represents the first attempt to summarize the elements of the U.S. Naval aviation safety program in a single document, and disseminate it to a non-military audience. The program is discussed in the context of safety research carried out in other military and high-reliability organizations. The many areas in which the U.S. Navy has learned from other high-reliability organizations are identified, and areas in which the elements of the Navys safety program could be adapted to mitigate the human factors causes of mishaps in commercial aviation delineated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)Safety research has shown that human error, as opposed to mechanical failure, is a major causal factor in accidents in high-reliability organizations. In U.S. Naval aviation, human error accounts for more than 80% of mishaps. This paper represents the first attempt to summarize the elements of the U.S. Naval aviation safety program in a single document, and disseminate it to a non-military audience. The program is discussed in the context of safety research carried out in other military and high-reliability organizations. The many areas in which the U.S. Navy has learned from other high-reliability organizations are identified, and areas in which the elements of the Navys safety program could be adapted to mitigate the human factors causes of mishaps in commercial aviation delineated. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)