HUMAN FACTOR IN AVIATION RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNICIAN COMPETENCIES AND ATTITUDE ONE OF THE RARE JOBS WHERE MISTAKES HAVE SEVERE CONSEQUENCES:

AVIATION TECHNICIAN

Competence can be most simply defined as the set of behaviors required to perform a task or duty. In the aviation industry, being a technician is an important job and a sensitive duty. This importance and sensitivity grow even more, especially for those who physically interact with the aircraft and perform operations on it. Technicians work in a field where the cost of an error is significantly high. We all know that, just like pilots, there are many examples in aviation history where mistakes, oversights, or negligence by technical personnel have had a direct impact on flight safety.

If we ask what is the most essential factor that ensures a technician produces correct and desirable results in such an important job, the answer would be “technician competencies.” In aviation maintenance, for a technician to perform their job effectively, they must possess competencies such as knowing and using relevant resources, maintaining healthy communication, working efficiently in teams, solving problems, making decisions, and managing workload. Based on what we have discussed so far, let’s continue asking questions: What is the fundamental prerequisite for a technician to acquire and apply these competencies effectively? Let’s try to answer this in the next section.

The Triad Of Knowledge – Skill – Attitude

The answer to the above question brings us to the triad of knowledge, skill, and attitude. Knowledge refers to the tested and rational resources that we need to apply in a particular field. We cannot expect someone to do something they do not know. For example, if we want a skilled technician to become a trainer, we cannot simply put them in a classroom and ask them to teach. First, we need to bring their knowledge level in this new field to the required standard. To achieve this, we enroll them in training processes where they acquire the necessary knowledge. Especially in the aviation industry, a technician’s job is entirely based on rules, procedures, and documentation—there is no other way. Once we determine that their knowledge level is sufficient for the job, we move on to the next stage.

The next stage is the skill phase. A job or task cannot be performed by simply possessing knowledge. Particularly in aviation maintenance, obtaining the authority to certify work requires a long period of transforming knowledge into experience. For this reason, specific timeframes are defined at each certification stage of a technician. Until this period is completed and the required tasks are approved by experienced personnel, authority is not granted. This demonstrates that knowing is valuable, but being able to apply that knowledge is essential. There is a saying: “If knowledge alone were enough, no one would smoke.” Everyone knows smoking is harmful, dangerous, and unhealthy, yet many still fail to develop the skill to quit.

Now, let’s move on to the third and most crucial step of this discussion: attitude.

We are all familiar with the phrase, “Do it as if it were your first time, every time.” The key characteristic of people with the right attitude is precisely this. Individuals who develop the right attitudes continue to perform their jobs with the same level of diligence and care, even after 30 years in the field. Think back to when you first started working—you paid close attention to everything, strictly followed documentation, aimed to complete tasks on time, refrained from being lax, and criticized those who did not work properly. Unfortunately, over time, these positive behaviors diminish in some people. However, individuals who develop and maintain the right attitudes do not fall into this trap.

That is why experts assert that knowledge and skill alone are not enough to determine whether someone is competent in a particular field. Today, to consider someone competent and capable of performing their job properly, we also require the right attitude alongside knowledge and skill. For an aviation technician to successfully apply their competencies and perform their job safely, they must embrace this golden triad: Knowledge – Skill – Attitude.

A H›ghly Valuable Key Concept: Att›tude

We have briefly covered knowledge and skill—these are concepts that we are all somewhat familiar with. Now, let’s take a closer look at a topic we do not discuss as often: attitude.

Attitude can be defined as the set of thought patterns that a person develops over time and uses to manage situations and events they encounter. Each of us has numerous thought patterns stored within us. When we face a situation in the outside world, we respond to it using these pre-existing patterns. Let’s consider an example: You are a technician and running late for work. You notice that the traffic is terrible and think, “I won’t make it on time.” Suppose you have a slight inclination toward the attitude of “Nothing will happen to me.” Based on this attitude, you begin driving in the emergency lane, exceeding the speed limit, and making unsafe lane changes. Eventually, you make it to work on time. You then think to yourself, “I made it, and nothing bad happened. I believed I could do it, and I did.” This experience reinforces your “Nothing will happen to me” attitude because you saw a benefit from it.

Now, let’s consider a second scenario. Again, you are running late, take the same risks, but this time, a traffic patrol spots you and pulls you over. You try to explain your situation, but they issue you a fine. As you continue your journey, you find yourself thinking, “I should have left earlier to avoid this fine and still arrive on time.” Why are you now criticizing the attitude that you previously approved of? Because this time, you suffered a consequence.Attitudes form and strengthen when we perceive benefits from them. When we experience harm, we begin to question and diminish those attitudes. However, even attitudes that we recognize as harmful take time and significant effort to change.

Let’s now give an example from ourselves : Imagine a technician whose dominant attitude is being hasty. This technician is experienced and highly skilled at their job. However, in a rush to move on to the next aircraft, they hastily replaced a component incorrectly. The incorrectly installed component caused a failure in the hydraulic system, rendering the aircraft’s hydraulic systems completely inoperative. At this point, there was nothing left for the pilots to control. The result was an accident or incident caused by loss of control.

Was the root cause of this situation a lack of knowledge? No.

Was it a weakness in the ability to apply what they knew? No.

The reason was simply acting with an incorrect attitude—haste.

Please remember that the root cause of the biggest accident in aviation history, the Tenerife disaster, was a flight crew that was feeling significant time pressure that day and acted accordingly—in other words, they acted hastily. This crew consisted of highly experienced professionals who were exceptionally skilled at their jobs. We know that behind the mistakes made by individuals whose knowledge and experience levels are beyond question in aviation, there are often incorrect attitudes. Attitudes are not something that can be observed externally. We cannot see a person’s attitude. What we can observe in individuals are their behaviors. Attitude is the mechanism behind behaviors. In our examples, the “nothing will happen to me” attitude led to the behavior of exceeding speed limits in traffic, while the attitude of haste led to the behavior of replacing a component too quickly. This shows us that in order to change our behaviors, we must first change our attitudes. However, even before that, as human beings, we need to strive to develop the right attitudes in the process of personal growth. Creating something new is easier than changing an existing one. What influences the formation of attitudes in us? Which factors determine and shape our attitudes? The factors that influence the formation of attitudes in individuals can be listed as follows:

Past experiences

Everything we have experienced up to this point in our lives affects the formation of our attitudes. In particular, we can say that negative experiences have a significant impact on attitude formation.

Social environment

The social environment in which we live affects us from the outside in. In other words, what happens around us shapes our inner world. The thought patterns that are accepted in the family and culture we grow up in are likely to develop in us as well. Conversely, thought patterns that are not accepted have a lower likelihood of forming within us.

Education

Education is another important factor in the formation of attitudes. Particularly, continuous and effective education has a significant impact on both attitude formation and retention. On the other hand, the lack of proper education can lead to the development of incorrect attitudes.

What we read, listen to, and watch

Beyond the factors mentioned above, what we hear, see, and read the most in our daily lives also contributes to the formation of our attitudes.

In Conclusion

We are familiar with the word “amateur” and use it in everyday language. This word is often used to describe a person’s level of knowledge and skill in a particular job or task. We commonly hear phrases like “They are an amateur,” “You’re approaching this too amateurishly,” or “That’s an amateur perspective.” However, the true origin of the word “amateur” comes from the Latin word amare, meaning “love” or “passion.” It signifies a deep, heartfelt dedication to something.

As mentioned earlier in this article, people who perform their work with genuine passion—those who embody the amateur spirit—continue to work every day with the same care and motivation as they did on their first day. A person who possesses knowledge and skills, is equipped with the right attitudes, and carries out their job with heartfelt love and commitment will exhibit their competencies more effectively, avoid mistakes, and contribute significantly to safety.

Wishing you safe and efficient work.