Crosscultural Perspectives in Human Factors Training: Lessons From the ICAO Human Factors Program

Abstract

Since 1991, the InternationaI Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has conducted four human factors training seminars and supported numerous events on the same topic in virtually every region of the world. This has provided significant information on perceptions, needs, and obstacles regarding human factors training as expressed by operational personnel, regulators, and managers across the international aviation community. This article presents these different perspectives from a practitioner's point of view. The cultural issues identified are deemed of value in contributing to orient the direction and design of future human factors training endeavors, especially those targeted to other than North American audiences.