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Project Acronym ADAMS
Project Name Human Factors in Aircraft Dispatch and Maintenance Systems
Project Dates February 1996 – January 1999
Funding agency/programme EU 4th Framework
Partners
  • Trinity College Dublin (TCD)
  • Nationaal Lucht-en Ruimtevaarlaboratorium (NLR)
  • European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
  • Defence Evaluation Research (DERA)
  • SAS
  • FLS Aerospace
  • Airbus Industries
Partners Logos
Partners websites SAS
FLS Aerospace
Sabena
Nationaal Lucht-en Ruimtevaarlaboratorium (NLR)
Airbus Industries
European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Defence Evaluation Research (DERA)
Project Website
Objective of the Project The ADAMS project took an integrated approach to the management of safety and reliability in aircraft maintenance, from the analysis of error through normal operations and technology to management systems.
Summary of the Project The ADAMS project took an integrated approach to the management of safety and reliability in aircraft maintenance, from the analysis of error through normal operations and technology to management systems. Amongst its findings were:
  • Systems generating accident and incident data in the aviation maintenance system do not routinely lead to HF improvements
  • In over one-third of maintenance tasks sampled the maintenance manual procedure was not followed
  • A wide range of HF issues cause routine problems in European aircraft maintenance organisations
Details of the Project The ADAMS project took an integrated approach to the management of safety and reliability in aircraft maintenance, from the analysis of error through normal operations and technology to management systems. Amongst its findings were:
  • Systems generating accident and incident data in the aviation maintenance system do not routinely lead to HF improvements
  • In over one-third of maintenance tasks sampled the maintenance manual procedure was not followed
  • A wide range of HF issues cause routine problems in European aircraft maintenance organisations
Quality reporting systems are not working effectively. Tools, demonstrator systems and recommendations were developed in the following areas:
Accidents and Incidents
A human factors reporting form and investigator’s guide for analysis of maintenance incidents and accidents. This is based on a new error classification, which is fully compatible with ADREP 2000.
Technology
IT demonstrator "black-book" interface. This is designed to replace the ubiquitous system of illegal unofficial documentation with a user-friendly version of task procedures that can be routinely officially validated.
Training
Recommendations for Human Factor training, including target groups, methodology and objectives. This work is being developed in the STAMINA project.
Organisational and Management Systems
A self-regulatory model of safety management. This encompasses effective design, planning and organisation of work and organisational learning processes.
The outputs of these parallel strands of research have been consolidated in one report, which is designed to give practical guidance to effective management of human factors: Human-Centred Management for Aircraft Maintenance.
Further Information
Tools available
  • ‘Human-Centred Management for Aircraft Maintenance’ (HCM)
  • ADAMS Taxonomy
Reports
Other output Bacchi, M (1997)
Reactive and proactive methods for human factors studies in Aviation Maintenance. Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology,
Columbus, Ohio.
McDonald, N.(1998)
Human factors and aircraft dispatch and maintenance safety. Nouvelle Revue d’Aéronautique et d’Astronautique No 2 1998, 143-146
McDonald, N., Daly, C., Corrigan, S., and Cromie, S.,
Human Factors and Task Procedures in Aircraft Maintenance.
In From Experience to Innovation, IEA '97
(Editors Pentti Seppala, Tuulikki Luopajarvi, Clas-Hakan Nygard, Markku Mattila), , Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki 1997. Volume 3. pp. 58-61
McDonald, N., Corrigan, S., Cromie S., and Daly, C.,
Safety management systems and safety culture in aviation maintenance organisations.
Safety Science, 57pp. (in press)
McDonald, N. (1998).
An Organisational Approach to Human Factors.
Proceedings of the Australian Psychology Symposium, Sydney.
O’Connor, S. (1997).
A preliminary taxonomy for human error analysis in civil aircraft maintenance operation’,
Proceedings of the 9th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology,
Columbus, Ohio.
O’Connor, S & Hardiman, T. (1996)
Human error in civil aircraft maintenance and dispatch: The basis of an error taxonomy.’
Proceedings of the first Engineering and Cognitive Psychology Conference.
College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University.
Contact Detail
Tool Name ‘Human-Centred Management for Aircraft Maintenance’ (HCM)
Tool Objective The main recommendations of the project are encompassed in this industry-focused guide.
Availability CD/Download
Cost Free
How to get it Dr. Nick Mc Donald, Department of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin. Tel: +0035316081471; Fax: +0035316712006
Tool Name ADAMS Taxonomy
Tool Objective
Availability
Cost Free
How to get it