Human Factors Training in Aviation Maintenance: Impact on Incident Rates

Abstract

Since 1999, aircraft maintenance personnel in the European Union (EU) have been required to take human factors training. This training is not required in the United States (US). The relative rates of maintenance-related incidents in the US and the EU were compared prior to and after the implementation of mandatory human factors training in the EU. Prior to 1999, the rates of maintenance-related error for the EU and the US were not statistically different. In the years following the implementation of mandatory human factors training in the EU, the difference in rates for the US and the EU became statistically significant. Our results suggest that human factors training may be valuable in reducing maintenance-related error in aviation.