As a cultural and cognitive anthropologist with a large investment in understanding commercial aviation operations, I have a long standing interest in the roles of language and culture in the organization of pilots’ behavior.  Many years ago, I met Captain R. Alejandro Pérez-Chavéz (AeroMexico, ASPA, and IFALPA). Alex was a professional pilot learning to be an anthropologist. I was an anthropologist learning to be a professional pilot. We quickly became friends.   In the early 1990s Captain Pérez and I had authored a presentation for the International Federation of AirLine Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) on culture and flight deck operations.  In the fall of 2001, a contract with Boeing gave me the opportunity to survey the state of the art in this area.

Publication:   

Edwin Hutchins, Barbara E. Holder, R. Alejandro Pérez. Culture and Flight Deck Operations. Prepared for the Boeing Company. January, 2002.