Psycho‐educational Design of the Aircrew Team Management Programme

In mid‐1984, the authors were commissioned to assist in the design of a programme to improve flight crew functioning in Trans Australia Airlines — a major Australian domestic carrier with over 600 active aircrew flying Fokkers, Jetstreams, DC‐9s, Boeing 727s and 737s and the Airbus A‐300. Research and consultation with the airline identified factors such as teamwork, resource management, and communication skills as critical to effective crew performance. Breakdowns in these same three areas are regularly cited as contributing factors in the 65–80 per cent of aviation accidents or incidents attributable to the human factor.