Steve's core work includes scientific research in pilot attention and monitoring, human-performance air accident investigations, procedure reviews, validations and re-designs, and training. Steve authored and updated the UK CAA's 'Flight Crew Human Factors Handbook' (CAP 737) used across the world.
Applied Safety
A few examples of Steve's work:
- Significant contribution to Air New Zealand’s Airbus A320 night RNP Queenstown project, which achieved the first ever ZQN night operations
- Review and re-designs resulting in:
- Airbus' A320 Head-Up-Display Procedures
- Mount Cook and Air Nelson new pilots' emergency processes
- Training and procedures for Air New Zealand RNP-AR operations
- World wide helicopter procedures / guidance to avoid wrong deck landings
- Design and scientific testing of pilot monitoring practices for unexpected events (within operators and using professional current crews), distributed worldwide through HeliOffshore.
- Scientific study of pilot EC usage with GASCo for UK CAA, yielding practical training for GA pilots
- Contributions to reports by the UK Air Accident Investigation Branch
- Design of easyJet’s unique and highly successful inadvertent slide deployment procedures (from 6 ISDs per year to zero).
- Contribution to RNZAF’s T6-II Texan Operation (initial training platform and HUD training) and C130/P3 flight deck upgrades
Scientific Work
Steve conducts instrument monitoring research for organisations including airlines and helicopter operators, and is the monitoring work-stream lead for Helioffshore. He researches automation effects, monitoring, aircraft control and roots of error. Steve also acts as an advisor for R & D projects for several global organisations. Most recent (2024/5) work includes scientific study of scan-transfer in current professional pilots, with a view to maintaining manual handling scans through lower level simulation devices. Steve's 2023 CAA funded research into effects of electronic conspicuity devices on pilots (in collaboration with GASCo) was published as CAA CAP 2583.
Accident Investigation Work
Since 2012 Steve has investigated human-causation of major accidents and incidents for airlines and helicopter operators by request (including British Airways, Boeing, Thomas Cook Airlines, Bristow, Babcock PLC, and others under NDA). His expert opinion has been sought for legal cases, including MH370, G-SPAO (Glasgow Police Helicopter), and G-WNSB (Sumburgh). He has assisted the UK AAIB directly (e.g. HF Report for Boeing 737-86J, Belfast, July 2017) as well as indirectly through operators.
Teaching and Training
Steve designs and delivers training courses for many organisations, and provides bespoke training on request. Being continually engaged in practical cutting-edge research, he is able to bring the very latest findings into training.
Presenting and Publishing
Steve is an experienced speaker, regularly delivering keynotes and plenaries at international conferences. He has published many scientific articles (in peer review journals) conference papers and book chapters.
Voluntary work
For many years Steve has provided voluntary expertise to the healthcare domain, particularly the Royal College of Surgeons (England), to help progress medical safety. This has included assistance creating HF training courses, conference presentations, chairing workshops, and co-authoring articles and chapters. He also volunteers time to aviation advisory bodies.
Aviation Background
Steve's work benefits from deep aviation enthusiasm, knowledge and experience. He has thousands of hours private flying and gliding (since 1986), including instructing and examining, and gained a Boeing 737-3/4/500 full type-rating with Air New Zealand for professional development. Additionally he has hundreds of hours flight-deck observation and live handling experience across airline and military aircraft (fixed and rotary wing).
Qualifications / Registrations
PhD - Applied Aviation Psychology / Human Factors
CSci (Chartered Scientist; UK Science Council)
CPsychol (Chartered Psychologist; British Psychological Society)
CErgHF (Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist; CIEHF)
FIEHF (Fellow - Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors)
AFBPsS (Associate Fellow - British Psychological Society)
FRAeS (Fellow - Royal Aeronautical Society)
MSc - Human Factors and Safety Assessment in Aeronautics
BEd (hons) - Bachelor of Education, 1990-1994
Previous Roles
Previous employments include BAe Systems (Dynamics Division; maths assistant), Cranfield University (Course Director / Senior Lecturer) and QinetiQ (Principal HF specialist, Flight Crew Integration).