Operator's Manual for Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance

The Operator's Manual for Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance is an official technical guidance publication developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Civil Aerospace Medical Institute and the Office of Aviation Safety. Designed to bridge human performance theory and operational safety in maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) environments, this manual provides an actionable, evidence-based framework for establishing, sustaining, and evaluating human factors programs within aviation maintenance organizations. The text structures practical guidance across key operational areas: maintenance event investigation, technical documentation design, human factors training, shift and task turnover communications, fatigue management systems, and cost-justification models for safety programs. Utilizing classic human performance frameworks such as the PEAR model (People, Environment, Actions, Resources) and the "Dirty Dozen" maintenance error classification, the manual provides standardized protocols to reduce procedural non-compliance, workplace fatigue, communication breakdowns, and latent systemic errors. Serving as an essential open educational resource, this manual delivers practical safety management frameworks, human error analysis models, and operational guidelines for undergraduate and postgraduate students, aviation safety specialists, industrial systems engineers, maintenance managers, and human factors researchers studying ergonomics, safety management systems (SMS), and organizational safety culture.