Human Factors

Does anyone in upper management at the FAA know what human factors is? To put it simply, it is the concept that, as humans, we are subject to error. Humans are error prone. "To err is human" etc. etc. etc. etc. Human factors started out as ergonomics and has evolved into a holistic approach.

So, if a given person works in a complex job such as air traffic control where 99% of the error is caused by some sort of human error, then it only makes sense to train people on that error, even if its only educational in nature. To punish controllers for having a deal when its clearly a human fallibility is absolutely idiotic. The FAA obviously knows about human failures: a CRM (crew resource management) video put out by HQ details the above statistic. CAMI (Civil Aeromedical Institute) research has been studying controller error for the last several years. Nearly everyone knows that its not a behavioral issue. If my daughter throws water on her sister, I punish her. If she accidentally spills water on her, I attempt to reassure her and ensure that it doesn't happen again. OEs should be much the same.

I have heard that many facilities are taking the former approach (OE punishment with a stick). You are only exacerbating issues that should be approached much differently. And you are not getting to the core of the problem.