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Mixed-fleet flying in commercial aviation: a joint cognitive systems perspective

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Abstract

Previous research investigating work activities and cognition in multi-crew airline flight decks has used a joint cognitive systems approach. However, is this approach suitable when some components—such as pilots—physically shift between differing aircraft, or joint cognitive systems? A current practice within the airline industry, known as mixed-fleet flying (MFF), allows pilots to fly aircraft of slightly differing configurations within the same working roster. The assumption held by aviation authorities is that pilots are permitted to fly in MFF configurations as long as relevant training occurs. Based on a cognitive anthropological study on pilots flying the same aircraft type—with differing flight deck configurations—we demonstrate that there are two different joint cognitive systems at work as each system involves different functional systems. The aim of this paper is to extend certain aspects of the joint cognitive systems approach to enable an analysis of real-world issues like MFF.

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Notes

  1. In interaction, the participating components involved can be theorized independently, they are external to each other and are linked by some form of action between them; in transaction, the components of the system cannot be described independently of each other (Dewey and Bentley Dewey and Bentley 1999). In science and engineering, this requires modeling systems with differential equations that do not allow a separation of variables.

  2. Participating pilots were informed of reasons for the investigations and were told that participation was fully voluntary. They signed agreements to participate and a separate release for the use of photographs and video offprints.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, 4122, Australia

    Kassandra Soo & Timothy J. Mavin

  2. Lansdowne Chair in Applied Cognitive Science, Faculty of Education, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 3N4, Canada

    Wolff-Michael Roth

Authors
  1. Kassandra Soo
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  2. Timothy J. Mavin
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  3. Wolff-Michael Roth
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Correspondence to Kassandra Soo.

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Soo, K., Mavin, T.J. & Roth, WM. Mixed-fleet flying in commercial aviation: a joint cognitive systems perspective. Cogn Tech Work 18, 449–463 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-016-0381-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-016-0381-3

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