A practical five-layer model for aviation problem solving

Complex aviation issues are rarely solved by finding one defective step. A useful diagnosis moves through several layers.

The five layers

1. The event or observed gap
2. The immediate process
3. The interfaces between teams and systems
4. The management system that governs priorities and escalation
5. The wider operational and commercial context

Corrective actions become stronger when they address the layer that actually generated the condition.