Optimizing Risk Mitigation with Advanced Interpersonal Skills Training

Abstract

This dissertation presents a novel approach to improving aviation safety that focuses on the sociotechnical framework of the flight deck. By analyzing data from 1,600 experienced pilots from a leading US airline, I find that advanced interpersonal skills training plays a pivotal role in safety improvement by optimizing risk mitigation strategies in reducing pilots' self-silencing behaviors. Teaching pilots previously untaught skills such as bias literacy, psychological safety, interpersonal communication, and resilience can optimize risk mitigation and improve the efficacy of Crew Resource Management (CRM) and Threat and Error Management (TEM). I utilize a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from a longitudinal analysis of survey data centered around a lecture-based training intervention with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews. The intervention led to a statistically significant greater endorsement of interpersonal skills, particularly among non-prototype pilots (women and non-White male aviators). A model I call the “Safety Voice Reduction Sequence” illustrates the detrimental impact of certain captain behaviors on psychological safety in the flight deck microculture. Another model I term the “Optimized Risk Mitigation Model for Sociotechnical Systems” (a model emphasizing advanced interpersonal skills training to increase the resilience of the sociotechnical system) introduces a transformative approach to pilot human factors training rooted in empirical research findings. This model advocates for the inclusion of specialized training content aimed at bolstering interpersonal skills capabilities within flight operations, directly contributing to enhanced safety outcomes and optimized risk mitigation strategies. This dissertation underscores the critical importance of enhancing interpersonal skills among pilots through specialized training interventions, revealing how addressing self-silencing behaviors and fostering psychological safety can significantly improve aviation safety by optimizing risk mitigation within the sociotechnical framework of the flight deck.