Aircraft Accidents: Human Factor (Hansard, 3 December 1991)

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the statutory responsibility for the safety regulation of UK civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority. It fully recognises the significance of human factors in aviation accidents and has set up a human factors study group. The principal areas covered by the group's work are: flight deck design and procedures; maintenance and inspection techniques; ground and air crew training; and cabin safety.

§ Lord Willis
My Lords, I thank the Minister for that reply and accept that the British aviation industry has, rather belatedly, made some progress in this area. Does he agree that since 70 per cent. of air accidents are caused by human error there should be a more detailed and thorough study of that aspect? Does he also agree that there should be one overall controlling authority to investigate such accidents? Is he further aware that there have been instances, particularly in the United States, where it has been possible to reduce accidents by studying human error? Does he not agree that we should follow that example in this country?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which determines the causes of aircraft accidents, has been able to identify several areas where human factors have played a prominent part in the accident sequence. Information built up is shared among aviation regulatory and accident investigation authorities worldwide via their computer databases. I can also tell the noble Lord that, following accidents, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch co-opts behavioural scientists from the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine to work with the branch en human performance studies. The IAM team of behavioural scientists is one of the most experienced groups operating in that field anywhere in the world. It is the best national source of expertise on the subject and the branch has had the benefit of its help in several of its investigations.

§ Lord Clinton-Davis
My Lords, I thank the Minister for a very helpful reply and congratulate the CAA on the progress it is making in this regard. However, does the Minister agree that nonetheless there is a need for a measure of harmonisation at European level—not confined to the European Community but perhaps initiated by the Community 92 —of the basic control panel of aircraft, which could certainly give rise to errors, as is evidenced by the Answer he has already given?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the noble Lord has raised a very useful point. I said that the information which is built up is shared between all aviation regulatory and accident investigation authorities worldwide, but I shall certainly put the European point to my noble friend.

The Earl of Halsbury
My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that, acts of God apart, all accidents are caused by human error and there is nothing specific to the aviation industry about human error?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, the noble Earl is, as usual, right. The purpose of the work which I have described is to reduce the likelihood of human error so far as that is humanly possible.

§ Viscount Caldecote
My Lords, are the Government fully satisfied that the reduction in the cockpit crew from three to two on long distance flights is compatible with the interests of safety?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I am sure that the CAA took that point into account when making its decision.

§ Lord Willis
My Lords, is the Minister not aware that while it is not possible to eliminate human error entirely it is possible to reduce it and that that has been done successfully by some airlines in other countries? The noble Viscount gave an impressive list of the measures that have been taken to reduce human error, but in this country at least the incidence of human error remains at the same level. Is he aware that a book entitled The Naked Pilot has recently been published—which results from a long study by a former British Airways pilot, David Beatty—which recommends certain measures which as yet have not been taken by the British aircraft industry? Will the Minister recommend that book not only to the RAF but also to the civilian airlines?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, not having read the book I am not in a position to recommend it. However, I can tell the noble Lord that information about the reduction in accident rates is not readily available but, overall, accident rates are reducing while air traffic is increasing. While a human factor may be identified as contributing to an accident the prime purpose of air accident investigation is to establish the sequence of events and to learn lessons, not to apportion blame. Accordingly, accident investigators are reluctant to indicate that a human factor was a prime cause of an accident.

§ Lord Whaddon
My Lords, is the noble Viscount aware of the apparent conflict which has sometimes occurred between the making of practice approaches for landing by trainee pilots and the 500 feet clearance rule for aircraft which has apparently been breached? Is he aware of the articles which have appeared in the aviation press concerning that conflict, and will he 93 look again at the matter to ensure that pilots under training are cleared to make as many practice approaches as are necessary?

§ Viscount Davidson
My Lords, I shall certainly pass on that point to my noble friend.