Human Factors in Aviation (MSc)

Learn the basic concepts of human information processing, and its application in the applied aeronautical context. You will then have the opportunity to become familiar with the concepts of workload and situation awareness, associated measurement techniques and their importance in all aspects of system design and evaluation.

Compulsory

Examine the major schools of thought in the study of decision-making and the processes for improving aviation decision-making. You will then have the opportunity to consider the nature of error, its root causes and methods by which it may be mitigated. These concepts will be illustrated within an aviation context where applicable.

Compulsory

Understand the issues relating to human factors in flight deck design, including displays and controls, the use of automation, and human-computer interactions on the commercial flight deck.

Compulsory

Explore the psychology of individual differences, focusing on personality and cognitive ability, as well as the measurement of these concepts. Examine the areas of psychological stress and environmental stressors within an aviation environment, alongside the effects of such stressors on human performance.

Compulsory

Learn about the training lifecycle, with particular emphasis on the analysis, design and evaluation of training, and explore the role of simulation in an aviation training context.

Compulsory

Explore the scientific literature associated with an area of human factors relevant to the course. In addition, develop key skills in literature searching, critical analysis and synthesis, and academic reporting of literature.

Literature reviews undertaken by past graduates have included just culture, decision-making in complex naturalistic environments, psychological stress in aviation, motion platforms in flight simulation, enhancing crew resource management training, non-compliance with procedure, fatigue in aviation, barriers to incident reporting and perceptions towards unmanned aerial systems.

Compulsory

In the second year, you will study modules covering applied areas of human factors in aviation (crew resource management and human factors and safety management). You will then undertake an industry-related human factors research thesis, giving you the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge you should have gained during the course and allowing you the chance to develop your ability to design, plan, execute and communicate an applied research project in the field.

Human Factors Research Methods and Data Analysis are included within each taught module, designed to allow a more focused approach and demonstration of their application in a range of different contexts.

Learn about the principles of crew/team resource management and study the literature behind non-technical skills, such as decision-making, communication, leadership/team working, situation awareness and fatigue management. You will also be introduced to the process of identifying, training and assessing non-technical skills in the applied aeronautical context.

Compulsory

Get an overview of the organisation-wide safety management function, focusing on risk management and avoiding (or managing) error across operations. You will also have the opportunity to consider approaches used to investigate the human factors aspects of aviation accidents and incidents.

Compulsory

Identify, scope and develop a topic for a research/empirical based thesis project related to human factors in aviation.

Compulsory

Undertake an empirical research-based project related to human factors in aviation. This module aims to give you the opportunity to investigate in depth (to master’s level) an applied real-world problem that is of interest to the individual student.

Compulsory