CRM training for aeromedical personnel
The origins of crew resource management (CRM) are usually traced back to a workshop sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1979. Over time the key concepts in CRM have evolved via a series of generations. The lessons learnt from each generation were incorporated into CRM. There have been six distinct generations of CRM to date. Crew resource management has been in existence for over twenty five years, and is now
an integral component of aircrew training. Aircrew and aeromedical evacuation (AME) personnel both operate in hazardous environments and their duties involve interaction with complex technologies and other people. More recently, CRM has been applied to a variety of other industries including nuclear power facilities, surgical teams and obstetric care. Current generation CRM involves looking at factors external to the aircraft, as well as all of those personnel who are on-duty whilst in the air. Aeromedical transfers have historically been high risk activities, with increased accident rates especially for rotary wing operations. It is now time for the aeromedical fraternity to consider incorporation of the lessons learnt from our aviation colleagues into a program of aeromedical crew resource management (ACRM).
This paper traces the development of CRM and those events that shaped it. A training program for ACRM is proposed. The ultimate aim of aeromedical CRM is to improve the safety and efficiency within the AME environment.
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