In this corner . . .
Every flight is a fight! Human Error be old and out of shape, but never count him out.
safetyII
Gene Kranz on spacemanship
“An engineer can explain how a system should work (in theory) but an operator has to know what the engineer knows and then has to know how the systems tie together to get the mission accomplished. If the systems break down the operator must make rapid decisions on fixing or working around the problem to keep the mission moving.” Gene Kranz — aerospace engineer, fighter pilot, NASA flight director — with timeless wisdom on the difference between engineers and operators, in his 2000 book Failure Is Not An Option. Original photo source NASA.
Reasonable rational individuals
“Most accidents originate in actions committed by reasonable, rational individuals who were acting to achieve an assigned task in what they perceived to be a responsible and professional manner. They have probably committed these same unsafe acts before without negative consequences because the existing conditions at the time did not favour an interaction of the flawed decisions or deficiences present in the system.” Peter Harle, Director of Accident Prevention, Transportation Safety Board of Canada and former RCAF pilot, ‘Investigation of human factors: The link to accident prevention.’ In Johnston, N., McDonald, N., & Fuller, R. (Eds.), Aviation Psychology in Practice, … Continue reading Reasonable rational individuals
My book says . . .
Shoutout to all new safety clipboard holders! Hope Santa bought you a shiny new hat, and a deep appreciation of how work really gets done in dynamic tightly-coupled high-risk professions.
“Now, we’re not going to use the word ‘blame.’”
(from The New Yorker magazine.) SaveSave