Crew Resource Management Flight 1549

Crew Resource Management Flight 1549

Eric Donop

Embry-Riddle

Abstract

Crew Resource Management is an integral tool in alleviating aviation accidents that occur as a result of human error. CRM training has evolved over the past forty years to a dynamic, scenario based, highly effective program that is incorporated into almost all aspects of aviation training. Today CRM no longer includes just the pilots, but also includes any person who is involved with flight operations of an aircraft. This includes flight attendants, mechanics, dispatchers, air traffic controllers, and more.

United Flight 1549 is an outstanding example of an aircrew utilizing the tenants of CRM safely and efficiently reacted appropriately to an inflight emergency that could have otherwise proved fatal for all on board. Evaluating the cockpit voice recording and the steps taken by this crew, gives us insight into how an effectively trained crew should operate thereby, giving current and future pilots an example of what to emulate in an unforeseen circumstance such as a loss of thrust in both engines.

Crew Resource Management

January 15, 2009 United Flight 1549, an Airbus A-320, departed New York’s LaGuardia airport enroute to Charlotte, North Carolina. Approximately two and a half minutes after take off; Flight 1549 struck a flock of Canadian Geese, causing a loss of thrust in both engines. The crew was unable to relight the engines and had to accomplish an emergency landing on the Hudson River. All 150 passengers and crew survived. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has called this ditching the most successful ditching in aviation history. The primary factor attributed to the successful ditching of flight 1549, was the high degree of professional and technical skill behind the flight crew. The ability of the aircrew to quickly troubleshoot and implement emergency procedures in a timely and efficient manner is due in large part to the crew resource management training that...