Human Error in Aviation and Sea Transportation Systems

Aviation and sea transportation systems have become an important element of the global economy. Each year, over 1.6 billion passengers around the world use airlines for business and leisure travel and over 40% of the world trade of goods is carried by air from one place to another [1]. Furthermore, over 90% of the world s cargo is transported by merchant ships, and there are approximately 90,000 merchant ships in the world [2,3]. 

The overall aviation accident rate has declined considerably over the years (the accident rate for air travel is about one fatality per million flights), but the reduction in human error-related accidents in aviation has unfortunately failed to keep pace with the reduction of accidents [4-6]. In fact, as mechanical equipment has become more reliable, humans have become an increasing causal factor in the occurrence of both civilian and military aviation accidents [4,5]. 

In regard to sea transportation systems, a modern ship comprises many systems/equipment/parts that require varying degrees of human intervention. About 80% of all accidents in the shipping industry are rooted in human error [7]. 

This chapter presents various important aspects of human error in aviation and sea transportation systems. 

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