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EASA Module 8

EASA Part-66 Module 8 - Human Factors (Basic Knowledge Examination)

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Cheat sheet

Keep the key ideas within reach.

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Key terms

Get comfortable with the vocabulary.

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Study plan

Give each week a clear focus.

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Common mistakes

Understand the traps and how to avoid them.

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Case studies

Put your knowledge to work in context.

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Exam-day guide

Prepare for the day ahead.

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About this exam

EASA Module 8 - Human Factors is one of the basic knowledge modules in the EASA Part-66 aircraft maintenance licence syllabus. It is aimed at anyone working toward a Part-66 licence - typically trainee and practising aircraft maintenance engineers - and at certifying staff who need to understand how human performance shapes maintenance safety. Rather than teaching aircraft systems, the module examines the people who maintain them: how vision, hearing, memory and attention limit what a technician can perceive; how stress, fatigue, shift work, alcohol and medication degrade performance; how team culture, supervision and communication shape outcomes; and how error models help explain and prevent maintenance mistakes. It closes with workplace hazards, safe behaviour and reporting. Preparation works best as steady reading plus practice questions, because the material is conceptual rather than numerical; candidates who memorise definitions without applying them to hangar scenarios usually struggle. One caution: at the time of writing the official EASA page for maintenance licences returned an error, so the exam length, pass mark, fee and retake rules shown on this page are unverified and marked for review. Treat the domain weightings as indicative until the official syllabus text is confirmed.

What you'll study

General (human factors in maintenance, incidents attributable to human factors, Murphy's law)11% Human Performance and Limitations (vision, hearing, information processing, attention and perception, memory, claustrophobia and physical access)11% Social Psychology (responsibility, peer pressure, culture, team working, management and supervision)11% Factors Affecting Performance (fitness and health, stress, time pressure and deadlines, workload, shift work, alcohol, medication and drugs, fatigue)11% Physical Environment (noise, illumination, climate and temperature, motion and vibration, working environment)11% Tasks (physical work, repetitive tasks, visual inspection, complex systems)11% Communication (within and between teams, work logging and recording, keeping up to date, currency, dissemination of information)11% Human Error (error models and theories, types of error in maintenance tasks, implications of errors, avoiding and managing errors)11% Hazards in the Workplace (recognising and avoiding hazardous situations, complying with instructions, reporting hazards, safety first)12%
Common questions

About EASA Module 8 preparation

What is the exam format for Module 8?

The published format is multiple choice, in line with the other Part-66 basic knowledge modules. The number of items, the time allowed and whether the paper is computer- or paper-based are set by the competent authority or approved training organisation delivering it, and could not be verified from the source retrieved for this page.

How many questions are on the paper and how long do I get?

We cannot state this reliably. The official EASA page that should carry these details returned a '404 Not Found' error when checked, so question count and duration are marked as unverified and left blank rather than guessed. Confirm both with your Part-147 training organisation or national competent authority before you book.

What mark do I need to pass?

The pass mark is not reproduced here because it could not be confirmed against a live official text. Basic knowledge examinations under Part-66 are typically expressed as a percentage of correct answers, but the exact figure must come from your examining body. Treat any number you see on third-party sites as unconfirmed until you check the regulation yourself.

How difficult is Module 8 compared with the technical modules?

It is rarely the module people fail for lack of intellect - it is failed through under-preparation. There is no mathematics and little to memorise by rote, but the vocabulary is dense and several concepts sound similar. Candidates who skim it because it feels 'easy' tend to lose marks on scenario-style items that require applying a model, not reciting it.

What are the most common failure modes?

Three recur. First, confusing the error types - a slip, a lapse and a mistake are not interchangeable, and neither are violations. Second, mixing up the SHEL model's interfaces with the error models. Third, answering from intuition about how people 'should' behave rather than from the syllabus. Practising applied questions, not just re-reading notes, fixes all three.

If I fail, how soon can I retake, and how many attempts do I get?

Retake rules are set by the competent authority or the training organisation, not by this page, and the official source consulted returned an error, so no attempt limit or waiting period is quoted here. Ask your examination centre directly and get the answer in writing before your first sitting.

In what order should I study the nine domains?

Start with 8.1 General and 8.2 Human Performance and Limitations, which supply the vocabulary everything else uses. Then take 8.8 Human Error and 8.4 Factors Affecting Performance, the two heaviest in applied content. Finish with 8.3 Social Psychology, 8.5 Physical Environment, 8.6 Tasks, 8.7 Communication and 8.9 Hazards, which recycle the same concepts in practical settings.

Are the domain weightings on this page official?

No. The source did not enumerate domains or percentages, so the nine domains are listed with evenly distributed indicative weights pending confirmation. Do not use them to decide how much time to spend on each area. Check the officially published Part-66 appendix before planning a revision timetable around them.

Does studying here replace an approved Part-147 course?

No. This material is independent study support and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to EASA or any approved training organisation. It cannot substitute for a Part-147 basic training course where one is required for your licence route, nor for your organisation's own maintenance human factors training and procedures.

What is the fastest way to prepare in the final week?

Work backwards from errors. Do mixed practice questions across all nine domains, log every wrong answer by domain, then re-read only those areas. In the last two days, rehearse the definitions of error, violation, the SHEL interfaces and the main error models out loud - these underpin a large share of applied items and are the easiest marks to lose.