Cockpit Resource Management Training: Are Current Instructional Methods Likely to be Successful?

Investigators and members of the National Transportation Safety Board attribute the cause of the majority of airline accidents and incidents to pilot error. In an effort to address this problem, many airlines have developed training programs for pilots aimed at improving teamwork and decision making in the cockpit. Much of this training, generally termed Cockpit Resource Management (CRM), has leadership style assessment and modification through group exercise as its foundation. Though cockpit resource management training has been widely embraced within the aviation industry, its effectiveness in improving flight safety has yet to be demonstrated. An argument is advanced that the current approach to this training is not likely to be effective. Other approaches are suggested