I bring you a weekly bite-sized chunk of the science behind helicopter human factors and CRM in practice, simplifying the complex and distilling a helicopter related study into a summary of less than 500 words.
TITLE:
Exploring the role of pilot attributes and skills in response to in-flight emergencies.
WHAT?
This qualitative study examined which personal attributes and skills help pilots effectively manage unfolding in-flight emergencies. It sought to confirm previously theorised human-factor variables (e.g. training, leadership, decision-making) and identify emergent themes from pilots’ experiences.
WHERE?
Where?
Griffith University, Australia, with pilots from multiple aviation domains, including commercial, military, instructional, and aeromedical sectors.
WHEN?
When?
Due publication in the journal Safety Science, Jan 2026.
WHY?
Despite technological advances, human adaptability remains central to aviation safety. Previous literature identified certain factors linking pilots to less involvement in accidents and improved emergency management skills, but evidence from pilots’ own perspectives was limited. This study aimed to strengthen those theories and reveal additional, experience-based insights to inform pilot recruitment and training.
HOW?
18 pilots participated in semi-structured interviews. Using a modified Critical Incident Technique (where participants recount significant emergencies they successfully resolved), themes were constructed from the pilots’ accounts.
FINDINGS:
Twelve previously identified factors were confirmed as vital for managing emergencies:
These were, training, skill, experience, emotional stability, decision-making, confidence, improvisation, leadership, professionalism, situation awareness, reaction time, and creative-thinking.
Three new factors emerged from the thematic analysis:
- Mental preparedness,
- Systems knowledge (deep understanding of aircraft functions beyond checklists)
- Resilience (psychological endurance and persistence under stress).
Strong interconnections were observed—particularly between training, confidence, and emotional stability, as well as decision-making and skill/experience.
SO WHAT?
The study highlights that pilot performance in emergencies is determined by dynamic interconnections between multiple human factors. Training, for instance, was shown to reinforce confidence and emotional stability, which together supported better decision-making under stress. Likewise, emotional stability, decision-making, and improvisation formed a synergistic triad (pilots who remained calm were better able to think clearly and adapt creatively when SOPs did not apply). The close relationships between training, confidence, and emotional regulation suggest that these qualities develop in tandem rather than independently.
These findings imply that aviation training and assessment should move beyond targeting single competencies to cultivating the interaction of cognitive, emotional, and experiential attributes. Emphasising how factors like resilience, professionalism, and mental preparedness interact could strengthen pilots’ adaptability and teamwork during crises. By viewing pilot capability as an interconnected system of human factors, this study provides a more holistic framework for designing CRM and non-technical skills training, improving both individual and crew-level performance in safety-critical environments.
REFERENCE:
Bagley, L., Boag-Hodgson, C., Stainer, M., Wishart, D., & Cross, J. (2026). Exploring the role of pilot attributes and skills in response to in-flight emergencies. Safety Science, 193, 107010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2025.107010
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