Confirmation of Candidature - The Emerging Human Factor: An Exploratory Mixed-Method Study Investigating the Threat of Climate Change on Human Performance and Operational Safety in the Australian Aviation Sociotechnical System

Climate change is a risk to safe flight operations in the 21st century Anthropocene. Humans are the last line of defence in ensuring aviation safety. Frontline workers, at the sharp end of the aviation sociotechnical system, will be required to identify and manage climate change threats to reduce human error, whilst optimising human performance, health and well-being. There is currently a dearth of research into how aviation workers will manage these threats. This thesis will review the literature to identify Australian climate change aviation threats to guide the exploration of the management of these threats. This thesis will then further examine these potential threats within the Australian pilot cohort through qualitative methods and then explore those findings through quantitative survey methods with other Australian aviation workers. It will identify how workers may manage these potential threats to ensure high reliability and lead adaptation from an individual level as part of the overall aviation sociotechnical system.

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