Beyond Pilot Error: The Science vs. Experience Debate

This topic directly addresses current industry debates about what makes a good air incident (including accidents) investigator, while offering practical insights for improving aviation safety through better investigation practices.

This panel will explore the fundamental tension between traditional aviation expertise and scientific methodology in incident investigation. The discussion will examine whether investigators should primarily be experienced pilots who understand operational realities, or whether scientific training and critical thinking skills are more valuable for uncovering systemic safety issues.

As the aviation industry expands exponentially with current and emerging technologies, which includes UAS and space vehicles, how do we equip incident investigators with the right skills and knowledge that can apply across a broader spectrum of aeronautical incident investigation?

Current debates in the aviation industry regarding the ideal air incident investigator revolve around the balance between technical expertise, investigative experience, and human factors and system safety awareness. While strong technical knowledge of aircraft systems is crucial, there's growing recognition of the need for investigators skilled in understanding human behaviour, organisational culture, and systemic issues that contribute to air incidents.

Join us for a meaningful discussion about the skillset required for a good air incident investigator.

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Key discussion points:

• The limitations of relying solely on pilot experience when investigating rare events
• How different investigative approaches - procedural/regulatory versus scientific inquiry - lead to different conclusions
• How the theoretical models that underpin accident investigation, while providing a positive framework, also have limitations that can impact findings
• The challenge of moving from "What happened?" to "why it happened?" and "How do we prevent it?"
• Real-world case studies showing how investigator background and environment influences findings
• The role of just culture in balancing individual accountability with system improvement
• What additional skills and knowledge do incident investigators need to be effective in the emerging technology and future aeronautics sectors including unmanned aviation and space?