Edinburgh Napier University

  Safety is of paramount importance in commercial aviation. Human factors account for up to 80% of aviation accidents and incidents. Commercial aviation is experiencing rapid growth and change while facing intense competition from a large number of new entrant, low cost carriers. These changes have a profound impact on the HRM model utilized by airlines, with many resorting to harder models of HRM and more low cost work practices. This changing HRM landscape raises important concerns in relation to pilots’ readiness and ability to deal with unpredictability and critical incidents. Our paper explores personal accounts of critical incidents narrated during in-depth interviews with 28 UK-based commercial airline pilots. We identify key emergent implications for HRM in aviation and beyond.