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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of human performance in aeronautical engineering
Level / 3 / Credits / 5
Purpose / This is an entry level skills unit standard for people entering the aeronautical engineering industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to describe: the importance of human factors in aeronautical engineering; physical and mental factors that affect human performance; social psychological issues that affect human performance; the effect of the work environment on human performance; and the causes and mitigation of human error in aircraft maintenance.
Classification / Aeronautical Engineering > Aeronautical Engineering - Core
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Definition
SHEL refers to the model Software/Hardware/Environment/Liveware.
2Texts referred to or applicable to this unit standard include –
Prof James Reason, Human Error (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990);
The European Aviation Safety Agency publication CAP 716.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe the importance of human factors in aeronautical engineering.
Evidence requirements
1.1The influence of human error on aviation accidents and incidents is described in terms of history, growth and significance.
1.2Accidents and incidents attributable to human error are described with reference to accident report findings.
Rangeminimum of two accidents and/or incidents.
1.3Root causes of accidents and incidents are identified with reference to accident reports.
Rangeminimum of two different causal factors.
Outcome 2
Describe physical and mental factors that affect human performance.
Evidence requirements
2.1Human eyes and ears are described in terms of their major parts and functions.
2.2The human brain is described in terms of its response to stimuli and processing of data.
Rangereceptors and sensory stores, attention, perception, memory, decision making, motor programmes.
2.3Human medical conditions are described in terms of their effect on people’s ability to perform aircraft maintenance tasks.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – claustrophobia, fear of heights.
2.4Physical and mental factors are described in terms of their effect on the ability to perform aircraft maintenance tasks.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – fitness, strength, stress levels, circadian rhythms, arousal, motivation, impairment caused by alcohol and drugs.
Outcome 3
Describe social psychological issues that affect human performance.
Evidence requirements
3.1Factors effecting how humans function within a group are described in terms of performance at work.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – social environment, accepting responsibility, working in a team or as an individual, motivation, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, peer pressure.
3.2The term ‘dirty dozen’ is described in terms of industry texts and its relevance to aircraft maintenance work.
3.3Principles of communication are described in terms of their importance and effect on aircraft maintenance activities.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – organisational, within work groups, between individuals;
may include but is not limited to – written, verbal, visual.
Outcome 4
Describe the effect of the work environment on human performance.
Evidence requirements
4.1Work environment is described in terms of its effect on human performance.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – noise, climate, temperature, fumes, light, motion and vibration, height, workplace layout, hazards.
4.2The nature of work tasks is described in terms of its effect on human performance.
Rangetasks may include but are not limited to – strenuous, complex, repetitive;
effect may include but is not limited to – fatigue, becoming overwhelmed, complacency, boredom.
4.3Organisational structure is described in terms of its effect on human performance.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – hierarchy, organisational communication, procedures, mission, social, values, information propagation, just culture.
Outcome 5
Describe the causes and mitigation of human error in aircraft maintenance.
Evidence requirements
5.1Murphy’s law is described in terms of its applicability to aircraft maintenance tasks.
5.2Human error models are described in terms of their use in aeronautical engineering.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – SHEL, Swiss Cheese, design vs. operator induced, variable vs. constant, reversible vs. irreversible, slips, lapses and mistakes.
5.3Defence mechanisms used in aircraft maintenance are described in terms of the human error models used in aviation.
Rangemay include but are not limited to – approved procedures, safety nets.
Planned review date / 31 December 2018Last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 19 September 2013 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0028
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the ServiceIQ if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
ServiceIQSSB Code 9068 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018