Introduction
The human factor is one of the essential characteristics that determine aviation safety since a large number of accidents occur due to pilots’ mistakes and a lack of training. This issue is particularly significant in military aviation, where aircraft crews face more risks and encounter more complicated tasks. Hence, it is crucial to mitigate this problem by implementing effective training programs and addressing psychological challenges among pilots, such as burnout, chronic fatigue, and other complications. Ultimately, the current report examines the connection between military aviation safety and the human factor, exploring the most pressing concerns within the topic.
Lack of Training
Lack of training is a prominent cause of crashes in military aviation. According to the report by Myers (2020), pilots’ mistakes account for nearly 43% of accidents, even exceeding the number of mishaps caused by environmental factors. It is a critical number that can be explained by inadequate military training. After all, military aviation is drastically different from civil aviation due to the unique aircraft parameters and operational disparities (Pamplona & Alves, 2020). As a result, military pilots require distinct training programs that appropriately cover all challenging aspects, including high-stress levels and necessary competencies. Moreover, while safety is the top concern for civil aviation, other factors, such as aircraft maneuverability, speed, and other technological capabilities, are prioritized in military aviation (Pamplona & Alves, 2020). Ultimately, the mentioned risks make military aviation significantly more dangerous compared to civil flights.
The current analysis implies that military pilots must undergo specific training regimes to minimize the possibility of accidents. However, as the reports show, it is not always the case, and aviation organizations frequently neglect the necessity of specialized training (Dyer, 2022; Myers, 2020). Specifically, the emphasis on flight simulations and the lack of real-life practice are some of the most pressing issues in this discussion. Myers (2020) notes that this approach causes young pilots to lose confidence in their abilities and creates unproductive work and practice environment within the facilities. There are several options to mitigate this problem and improve the training regimes. For instance, Diderisken (2021) proposes implementing additional performance criteria in training, including cognitive function evaluation and introducing innovative learning strategies. According to the author, this approach will help monitor the preparedness level of military pilots for real-life missions (Diderisken, 2021). Ultimately, a lack of appropriate training remains one of the most pressing issues that cause accidents in military aviation.
Fatigue and Mental Complications
Consequently, mental complications, such as fatigue, burnout, and improper sleep management, are significant factors that lead to deteriorating military aviation safety. For instance, the report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) emphasizes fatigue and sleep deprivation as the primary human factor risks in military aviation (“Management of sleep,” 2021). Namely, in the United States, more than 30% of people have insufficient sleep, which inevitably leads to additional psychological complications (“Management of sleep,” 2021). Moreover, the authors note that military pilots have inconsistent schedules, lack proper accommodations, and live in stressful environments (“Management of sleep,” 2021). Combined with sleep deprivation, these factors lead to increased fatigue levels, enhancing the risks of human factor mistakes during operational demands.
Therefore, it is crucial to introduce effective fatigue management among military pilots to minimize the number of accidents. Paul et al. (2020) propose implementing specific software to monitor sleep behavior and associated fatigue in military aviation. Namely, pilots can wear wrist bracelets that transfer data about their vital characteristics to the command center and monitor their sleep patterns (Paul et al., 2020). While this approach has drawbacks, it might prevent extreme fatigue that pilots might neglect on their own. After all, the research shows that mental health stigma is still highly prevalent in military organizations, and soldiers typically prioritize their duties instead of psychological and physical problems (Hinton et al., 2021). This neglect of mental health makes military pilots ignore their fatigue levels and continue their operations. However, as mentioned briefly before, military aviation is a highly dangerous environment, and sleep deprivation might become the cause of the accident (Paul et al., 2020). Hence, it is crucial that aviation organizations introduce innovative methods to help military pilots mitigate burnout and fatigue to minimize human factor mistakes.
Conclusion
Military aviation is a stressful and dangerous environment, which is particularly prone to human factor mistakes. The current analysis has examined two primary causes of such accidents – a lack of proper training and high mental strain. It is possible to mitigate the former problem by implementing effective training regimes with a focus on pilots’ cognitive functions and real-life practice instead of overemphasizing flight simulations. High mental strain is another critical problem due to the stressful environment and potentially dangerous military operations. Fatigue and sleep deprivation are relevant issues that increase the possibility of accidents and are highly prominent among a large number of pilots. Ultimately, improving the training regimes and working conditions in the industry is crucial to minimize the number of human factor mistakes and improve military aviation safety.
References
Dideriksen. (2021). Enhancing performance criteria to improve U.S. military aviation training [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Iowa].
Dyer, A. (2022). Military aviation crashes are again on the rise. Are ongoing safety and training issues to blame? Aviation Pros. Web.
Hinton, M., Pilkey, D., Harpe, A., Carter, D., Penner, R., Ali, S., & Washington, J. (2021). Factors that help and factors that prevent Canadian military members’ use of mental health services. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health, 7(2), 102-109.
Management of sleep and fatigue in military aviation. (2021). Congressional Research Service. Web.
Myers, M. (2020). Pilots, and maintainers are worn out and under-trained, the aviation safety commission says. Military Times. Web.
Pamplona, D. A., & Alves, C. J. P. (2020). Does a fighter pilot live in the danger zone? A risk assessment applied to military aviation. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 5, 100114.
Paul, M. A., Hursh, S. R., & Love, R. J. (2020). The importance of validating sleep behavior models for fatigue management software in military Aviation. Military Medicine, 185(11-12), e1986-e1991.