A methodology for enhancing crew resource management training

Human error is an ever-present threat to the safe conduct of flight. Recently, applied psychologists have developed an intervention, crew resource management (CRM) training, designed to help prevent human error in the cockpit. However, as it is commonly applied within the aviation community, CRM lacks standardization in content, design, delivery, and evaluation. This paper presents a discussion of an applied program of research aimed at developing a methodology for the design and delivery of CRM training within the Navy. This long-term, theoretically based program of aviation team research included identification of skills to be trained, development of performance measures, application of instructional design principles, and evaluation of the training delivery. Our conclusion indicates that a systematic methodology for developing CRM training can result in better performance in the cockpit. Actual or potential applications of this research include any task environment in which teams are interdependent.