Communication failures lead to airline disasters

Abstract

Communications problems have contributed, directly or indirectly, to some of the most disastrous aviation accidents in history. An analysis of past accidents reveals that common factors associated with poor communication include confusing phraseology, similar call signs, ambiguity, inference problems, and a host of other linguistic issues. The last category includes problems arising from unclear English or heavy foreign accents and poor enunciation. Examples of aviation disasters caused by communications errors are used to illustrate the variety of elements inherent in this area. Potential solutions are examined.