How Threat and Error Management Functions on the Runway

 Active with the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association, Tilak S. Ramaprakash has a background as a contract pilot and aviation auditor. As a member of Purdue University’s Aviation Technology Department, Tilak Ramaprakash authored the paper “Threat and Error Management (TEM) and Runway Excursions.”

A human performance-related safety concept, TEM originated in the procedures followed on airline flight decks. It is now used more broadly in discussing a variety of dynamic operating environments across the aviation realm.

At its foundation, TEM involves maximizing safety margins through anticipation, recognition, and recovery. The anticipation aspect consists of the flight crew staying vigilant and avoiding a sense of complacency. Recognition involves identifying unusual patterns the moment they occur, which is essential to mitigating an error or threat. Finally, recovery requires regaining an acceptable state of safety given a situation where the aircraft is in trouble. It represents a final opportunity to avoid an undesired outcome, such as a crash landing.

The factors involved in such situations on the runway are manifold and include bad weather, airport birds, terrain, ground crews, and air traffic control. In addition, many issues involving personnel can contribute, from experience level to excessive workload and resulting fatigue and stress. Maintaining a TEM protocol can help ensure that factors leading to unwanted incidents are proactively identified and prevented.