Human Factors
IATA HF expertise and guidance
Bringing together expertise from across the aviation industry
Knowledge that strengthens decisions, practices that transform safety: the IATA subject matter expertise groups help turn science and experience into safer practices for members.
The IATA Human Factors Group brings together representatives from member airlines and specialists from across the aviation sector to support the advancement of human factors, fatigue management, and human performance. The group provides expertise to support IATA safety initiatives, including research, risk assessment, standards development, operational guidance, and practical tools that address organizational and operational human factors challenges. Serving as a global network of experience and knowledge, it also connects the aviation community with specialist knowledge and best practices, acting as a point of contact for worldwide HF/FRM expertise, to meet the evolving needs of the global aviation community.
To assist airlines in maintaining and evolving their SMS and in support of our SMS Strategy, IATA has collated together useful tools, guidance material and practical examples, conveniently divided into the four pillars of the SMS framework:
What are airlines around the world doing in Human Factors and Human Performance, and where are the biggest opportunities for improvement? This global survey of 72 airlines provides a unique snapshot of current industry practices, emerging trends, and lessons learned from operators of all sizes and regions.
Inside the report, you'll discover:
- How leading airlines are integrating Human Factors into their Safety Management Systems, risk assessments, investigations, training, and change management processes.
- The industry's most significant Human Factors risks, with fatigue, stress, communication challenges, workload, and situational awareness identified as recurring concerns across operators worldwide.
- Insights into how airlines are managing fatigue risk through FRMS, reporting mechanisms, wellbeing initiatives, peer support programs, and data-driven approaches.
- Practical examples of industry best practices, implementation challenges, and 28 actionable recommendations that can help your organization strengthen safety performance and human performance outcomes. Whether you are a safety professional, operational leader, trainer, regulator, or Human Factors practitioner, this report offers insightful data, practical guidance, and industry insights to support the development of more resilient, people-centered aviation systems.
We invite you to dive into the insights we've gathered and hope you find them as interesting and inspiring as we did. Feel free to share the contents with your colleagues and community, and don't hesitate to send us your thoughts and feedback.