Crew Resource Management in long-Duration Spaceflight: Lessons on Program Development from Aviation and Healthcare

Paper number

IAC-07-A1.1.08

Author

Dr. David Musson, McMaster University, Canada

Year

2007

Abstract

This paper and presentation will present proposed models of development Crew Resource Management (CRM) for long duration spaceflight.  CRM can be defined as using “all available human and technical resources available to ensure a safe flight.”  In aviation, where CRM was developed, it has become a fundamental element of training and airmanship that comprises leadership, teamwork skills, communication, situational awareness, and decision-making.  Initially adapted from aviation, CRM is currently an essential component of spaceflight training and operations.  Beginning with a program developed for Shuttle commanders and pilots, CRM has been expanded to include elements relevant to ISS operations.  Astronaut training exercises, such as week-long winter survival skills training, and the experience of living for extended periods in undersea modules can be thought of as ISS relevant extensions of the basic concepts of CRM.  There is little if any external research or validation conducted on CRM in the space environment.

Traditionally, aviation has led the way in CRM research.  However, heightened interest in reducing medical errors in the healthcare industry has been responsible for previously unseen levels of attention and funding directed to the development and validation of CRM as a training intervention.  Building on aviation research and now healthcare CRM, clear models of program development are beginning to emerge.  Early lessons learned have been confirmations of previously held hypotheses, such as the difficulty in translating CRM programs between work domains and environments, the ineffectiveness of one-time training programs without continual reinforcement and the need for reliable assessment tools to assess the impact of training on behavioural outcomes.  

Healthcare has operational elements that are distinct from those of aviation, and that are special relevance for spaceflight.  These include larger teams, distributed command structure (where telehealth communication parallels that of crew-ground), and prolonged operation environments (where working relationships extend over days/weeks as opposed to hours) and where specific tasks and problems to be addressed extend over days.

Models of program development will be discussed – including the use of subject matter experts, critical incident analysis, theory, and simulation to identify required elements, training goals, and assessable measures.  Specific topics to be addressed will include crew-crew, crew-ground and ground-ground aspects of CRM.  Task-work and teamwork elements relevant to CRM will be identified for each of these 3 workgroups.

This presentation will be most relevant to those individuals tasked with the development of formal training programs in resource management for long duration spaceflight.

Abstract document

IAC-07-A1.1.08.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-A1.1.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.