Predicting and mitigating failures on the flight deck: an aircraft engine bird strike scenario

Abstract

Commercial aircraft engine damage as a consequence of foreign object debris (FOD) during flight is frequently caused by birds. One approach to minimising the disruption caused by this type of engine damage is to provide commercial flight crew with accurate information relating to the continuing operational status of the aircraft's engines. Before designing avionic systems to achieve this however, understanding of current procedures is needed.Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) and Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) were used to identify potential failures that commercial flight crew may make when managing an engine bird strike. Workshops with commercial pilots generated insights into current practice and a commercial pilot SME reviewed outputs for accuracy. Over 200 potential failures were identified, most commonly related to communication. Remedial measures, considering future avionic systems, have been proposed to mitigate identified failures. This analysis provides a starting point for future design concepts for assisting commercial flight crew in dealing with engine malfunction due to FOD strikes.