Johnny was here: From airmanship to airlineship

Area of Science:

• Human Factors
• Ergonomics
• Sociotechnical Systems Analysis

Background:

• Commercial aviation relies heavily on standardized operating procedures and technology.
• Increasing standardization aims for pilot and aircraft interchangeability.
• Sociotechnical systems, including flight operations, are inherently complex and underspecified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the phenomenon of airmanship in commercial passenger flights.
• To investigate how pilots' practices relate to standardized procedures and the technical environment.
• To understand the interplay between individual pilot discretion and organizational systems ('airlineship').

Main Methods:

• Observation studies conducted in aircraft cockpits.
• Interviews with pilots.
• Analysis of pilot practices within the broader sociotechnical context.

Main Results:

• Pilot practices are largely guided by standard operating procedures, enabling interchangeability.
• Pilots' context-sensitive adaptation of procedures and technology is crucial for system functioning.
• Airmanship involves mastering adaptations and recognizing their limits.
• Airlineship encompasses inter-organizational efforts for predictability and safety through de-identification.

Conclusions:

• Effective airmanship requires pilots to exercise discretion within defined operational boundaries.
• Understanding pilot work necessitates considering the wider organizational, regulatory, and techno-material structures.
• This study contributes models to portray individuals and systems holistically in ergonomics.