College
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
Date of Last Revision
2026-01-27 09:12:52
Major
Psychology
Honors Course
Honors Course No.: PSYC 498:003
Number of Credits
2
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Date of Expected Graduation
Winter 2025
Abstract
Human factors play a central role in aviation safety, influencing entire processes in an aviation environment. This paper reviews human factors in aviation as a whole to create a picture of what causes many aviation accidents. Models such as the SHEL model, Swiss Cheese Model, and Wickens MRT will be introduced to illuminate both the ways in which a flight deck should operate and why certain decisions are made in critical situations. Some of the deadliest aviation accidents have resulted from human error, such as the Tenerife airport disaster and AF447. These disasters were seminal in the development and execution of human factors investigations, exposing many of the weaknesses in the operational environment. Appropriately addressing human factors dramatically decreases the risk assumed by both passengers and flight crews. As aviation technology continues to advance, it is important to understand the risks assumed in flight, and the aviation industry must continue to work to create a flight environment that results in fewer errors.
Research Sponsor
Kevin Kaut
First Reader
Philip Allen
Second Reader
Nikolina Kravljaca
Honors Faculty Advisor
Kevin Kaut
Proprietary and/or Confidential Information
No
Recommended Citation
Silva, Alexander, "Aviation guilt: The role of human factors in airline incidents" (2025). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2090.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2090
Included in
Cognitive Psychology Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Forensic Science and Technology Commons, Human Factors Psychology Commons