Efficient decision strategies on the flight deck

Both crew productivity and flight safety depend critically on efficient crew problem solving and decision making. But what constitutes efficient problem solving and decision making behavior? Previous work has focused on crew performance in the context of a specific problem type. The present study differs from these analyses in two respects. First, we describe how aircraft crews cope with different types of problems. And second, we attempt to discern characteristics of optimal task management behavior. For this reason, we contrasted the behavior of more effective and less effective crews. Underlying this approach is the assumption that crews whom commit few operational errors also demonstrate most efficient problem solving and decision making behavior.