Understanding, identifying, and managing maintenance errors in The Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF)

Abstract

The Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) has recently experienced a series of maintenance-related incidents which have prompted investigation into the factors that contributed to them. The primary aim of this research project was to understand the nature of maintenance errors in the RBAF, with a view to developing an improved tool for identifying and managing these errors.

We analysed and triangulated several sources of data in order to better understand the nature of the occurring errors and their associated factors. The Maintenance Error Decision Aid (MEDA) questionnaire was administered to RBAF technicians, and Quality Assurance (QA) reports were collected and analysed in a manner consistent with the MEDA framework. Technicians were also interviewed to identify their perceptions of the factors contributing to errors, and their insight into how the current reporting system could be improved.

The type of error most commonly reported in this research was “aircraft/equipment errors, and “organisational factors” was nominated as the most common contributing factor. Both of these were reported in lower frequencies by technicians than by QA investigators. QA investigators’ experience probably helped in correctly identifying and classifying the various categories of error and contributing factors, while technicians may have treated some errors as negligible (and thus failed to report them), or may have lacked the experience or expertise to classify the errors as specifically. The technicians’ responses highlighted the importance of: proactively detecting errors; communication and the use of procedures; and pre-planning of tasks (in order to reduce maintenance errors).

Based on the findings of our research project, we have developed a tool (The Tool for Error Reduction and Management (TERM)) which can be used as part of the accident reporting and investigation process; to assist in understanding systematic patterns within a large set of events; and to identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement within the maintenance organisation.

There is no doubt that implementing the proposed tool in military aviation maintenance poses significant challenges, but from the RBAF organisational perspective, there are numerous benefits that will be gained by implementing it, most notably the reduction and improved management of maintenance errors.