How to Pass Part-66 Module 9 — Human Factors
Module 9 looks easy — it is short, and there is little maths. That is exactly why candidates lose marks on it: they under-prepare, then find the questions more subtle than expected. Here is how to pass it cleanly.
What Module 9 covers
Module 9 covers why human factors matter in maintenance, human performance and limitations (vision, memory, information processing), social psychology and teamwork, the factors affecting performance (fitness, stress, workload, sleep and fatigue), the physical environment, tasks, communication and shift handover, human error and its management, and hazards in the workplace.
The concepts examiners love
- The SHELL model and its interfaces
- Reason's 'Swiss cheese' model of accident causation
- The 'Dirty Dozen' maintenance error precursors
- Types of error — slips, lapses, mistakes and violations
- Fatigue, the circadian rhythm and the effects of shift work
- Communication and effective shift/task handover
The essay (GCAA candidates)
Under EASA the Module 9 essay was removed from June 2024, so EASA candidates sit multiple-choice only. GCAA CAR-66 still examines Module 9 with one written essay, so Gulf candidates should prepare essay technique on the main topics — the SHELL model, human error and fatigue are all classic essay subjects.
How to study it
Do not just read — Module 9 rewards understanding the models well enough to apply them to a scenario. Learn the SHELL and Swiss-cheese models, be able to classify an error, and know the Dirty Dozen. Then test yourself with scenario-style questions. It is a quick module to bring up to a pass once you engage with it properly.
Study Human Factors on Certify66
Notes, mind maps, interactive simulations, question banks and timed mock exams.