Practice personal resource management

  • Published
  • By Bob Ruminski
  • VPP manager
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Crew (or Cockpit) Resource Management training originated from a NASA workshop in 1979 that focused on improving air safety. 

The NASA research presented at this meeting found the primary cause of the majority of aviation accidents was human error, and the main problems were failures in interpersonal communication, leadership and decision making in the cockpit. 

A variety of CRM models have been successfully adapted to different types of industries and organizations, all based on the same basic concepts and principles. It has recently been adopted by the fire service to help improve situational awareness on the fireground. CRM training encompasses a wide range of knowledge, skills and attitudes including communications, situational awareness, problem solving, decision making and teamwork; together with all the attendant sub-disciplines each of these areas entails. CRM is concerned not so much the technical knowledge and skills required to fly and operate an aircraft but rather with the cognitive and interpersonal skills needed to manage the flight within an organized aviation system. 

So I've rambled on about CRM and flying, but I'm not aircrew. I could be a body fabricator, wrench turner, driver or dependant. How does this apply to me Mr. VPP? Well, read the above sentence once again. "CRM is concerned not so much with the technical knowledge and skills required to fly and operate an aircraft but rather the cognitive and interpersonal skills needed to manage the flight within an organized aviation system." 

Now that you have re-read it, replace the word "aircraft" with "motor vehicle" and replace "flight" with "driving." Starting to sound a little more familiar now? Now instead of calling it CRM, we'll call it Personal Resource Management. We all think or feel we are the best drivers in the world bar none, right? Of course! No one could teach us anything about driving, I'm young, have great reflexes and practice good spatial awareness, plus my attention to detail is outstanding. I can drive, eat a slice of pizza and talk on the cell phone next to my ear all at the same time ... while my stereo is at full blast and my borderline-legal tinted windows are rolled up. Does any of this greatly exaggerated synopsis pertain to you, or is this not that exaggerated? 

Team Travis members need to take a step back, and re-examine our driving behavior and attitude. There appears to be a growing trend of "road ignorance" with respect to committing all the driving errors of which we should be aware. Of the many infractions spotted most frequently is hand-held cell phone use. It's almost like an infection we're unaware of. We all know better, we know the rule, but we still get the infection. Talking and driving in this matter is an unconscious action. We do it without the realization that it's occurring, only until it's too late and we're caught, or worse yet involved in an accident. So do the smart and safe thing, limit your distractions and do the "thing" in your vehicle you're supposed to do ... drive. I point to the 101 Critical Days of Summer. As it approaches, outdoor activities will increase and unfortunately alcohol consumption will too, some even while driving. 

So let's be smart and practice good personal resource management.