Aircraft maintenance and stress

Mobility Forum, Sep/Oct 2000 by Tye, David

... understanding the causes of stress is the first step in preventing the stress from causing undesired consequences.

Anybody who has worked the line knows that aircraft maintenance and stress can often go hand - in - hand. And, stress can easily affect our judgement at critical moments while we work on or around aircraft. The sources of stress are as varied as reasons for missed Estimated Time of In Commissions (ETICs) (that is to say, there are a lot of sources of stress!). But for simplification, I would like to categorize sources of stress as coming from internal or external sources. Pressure to complete a job on time, to meet our own internal expectations, can cause stress. Specific reasons can include: pride in meeting a commitment (an ETIC) or a desire to get the job complete and tidied up before shift change. Everyone is familiar with the external sources of pressure. This typically comes from "up above," often through several layers of supervision; but by the time the mechanic gets the word, it sounds something like "I don't care what you have to do, this aircraft must be ready by 1500 today!"

Now, not all of this stress is bad! In fact, stress that causes us to perform to our peak is actually beneficial. The adrenaline rush that comes with needing to change a tire to get an aircraft off the active runway is not a bad thing, as long as it is tempered with judgement. Where we get into trouble is when stress beats us down, makes us fatigued, and consequently causes us to do things we would not otherwise do. The challenge is how to minimize negative stress, or at least not let it affect our judgement when working on or around aircraft.

As aviation maintainers, we typically work under deadlines; we accept a task for completion within a given time limit. If the time limit is unrealistic, or has become unrealistic due to developing events, then we must communicate that fact up the chain in a clear and concise way. The pressure to get the job done can be overwhelming, to say the least. But by delivering an achievable ETIC, and adjusting it as required, we can remove a major source of negative stress and concentrate on doing the job at hand properly, safely, and professionally.

In addition to an unrealistic timeline, other factors which contribute to the amount and nature of stress we feel on a given job include:

- Distraction: A change in direction, generally driven by an external source.

- Disorganization: The job is not coming together because we are busy running down parts, tools, and tech data that should have been gathered at the start.

- Inability to focus: Con-stantly being called away from the job at hand to work "higher priorities"

- Lack of resources: Trying to do the job with inadequate tools, tech data, parts, or training.

- Personal factors: Lack of adequate rest, distractions from off the job concerns, etc.

Understanding the causes of negative stress can help us recognize them in ourselves, and take the steps necessary to ensure that the stress doesn't cause us to do something unsafe, take an improper shortcut, or cause injury to ourselves or others.

As "warrior mechanics," we experience stresses not encountered by our civilian aviation counterparts. Besides the fact we might be shot at, or under them attack while fixing and launching aircraft, it is not always possible for us to be "absolute" in our definition of what is or is not an adequate "fix" for a given discrepancy. Although "risk management" is applicable to all forms of aviation maintenance, civilian and military, as "warrior mechanics" we have to consider a broader range of possible outcomes, and perhaps at times, take greater risks. For instance, a civilian airliner would never be launched with a typical aircraft battle damage repair type fix. But we might have to do this.

What makes this stressful is that our own expectations, and the expectations of others, need to shift to coincide with the acceptable risk level. A job which might take 4 hours in a contingency situation, might take 8 hours given a normal, peacetime environment. Obviously, not every job calls for a "pull out all the stops and lay on max overtime" type approach. Real world emergencies and/or contingency operations are an exception, not the rule. It is important that the decision to deviate from the norm be made at the appropriate level, and communicated to the mechanic in an objective manner. It is appropriate for the mechanic to feel "positive" stress, and a sincere sense of urgency, but negative stress should be minimized so that the mechanic can concentrate, without distraction, on completing the job at hand.

So, what are some other tools we can use to minimize negative stress on the job? First, as stated earlier, understanding the causes of stress is the first step in preventing the stress from causing undesired consequences. For instance, understanding that disorganization can be stressful, the mechanic should ensure that everything he needs for the job is on hand before getting started. Likewise, though this is easier said than done, personal problems need to be checked at the entry control point. Once we enter the flightline environment, we should be focused on the job .... not worried about personal affairs. Then, after work is completed, resolve those personal problems so they don't serve as distractors in the future. We also need to look after our physical condition. Have we had adequate rest? Enough to drink (very important in hot, humid environment)? If the weather is inclement, are we properly prepared? Though often overlooked, physical conditioning also plays a big part in our stress levels and ability to handle stress. In addition to being a good outlet for relieving stress, proper exercise can help ensure your body can handle unavoidable stress on the job. There is a definite link between our health and physical conditioning, and our ability to effectively cope with stress.