engineering

Gene Kranz​ on spacemanship

By Dave English

“An engineer can explain how a system should work (in theory) but an operator has to know what the engineer knows and then has to know how the systems tie together to get the mission accomplished. If the systems break down the operator must make rapid decisions on fixing or working around the problem to keep the mission moving.” Gene Kranz — aerospace engineer, fighter pilot, NASA flight director — with timeless wisdom on the difference between engineers and operators, in his 2000 book Failure Is Not An Option. Original photo source NASA.

Aviation Human Factors — 1932 paper

By Dave English

Clicking around research rabbit holes, reading papers cited by other papers, looking for something else entirely, I came across something in one of the world’s premier medical journals, The Lancet: Preventive Medicine In Its Relation To Aviation, by E. Goodwin Rawlinson (full PDF). From nineteen thirty-two. Yes, 1932. Lots of great quotes: “It must always be an axiom that the pilot (apart from the machine) is the paramount factor of flying.” For the design team, he observes: “The maker of the machines, in his engineering enthusiasm, unconsciously adds to the pilot’s troubles by altering or adding controls, changing what has … Continue reading Aviation Human Factors — 1932 paper