Flight crew
resource management is the science of training
Flight crews to interact and communicate in a highly
authoritarian environment while, at the same time, making use of the intelligence and
professional resources of all the members of a flight crew. In the cockpit, the captain is in unquestionable control of the airplane because he is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the flight, including hardware, equipment, and personnel on board. However, each member of the crew can make important contributions, especially during in-flight crises, but their input can be thwarted because of the highly authoritarian
command culture. This paper examines the issues of flight crew resource management and seeks to expand the definition of crew resource management to include personal
communication style in order to further facilitate professional, accurate, and open communication between the flight staff and commander.