What does the term 'active error' refer to in aviation safety?

The term 'active error' in aviation safety specifically refers to errors that are immediate and noticeable. These errors typically occur at the operational level and can be directly traced to a specific action or inaction by an individual in the cockpit or on the flight deck. Active errors are often characterized by their quickly observable impact, which can lead to immediate consequences affecting safety outcomes.

In aviation, understanding active errors is crucial because they provide valuable insights into how human factors can influence safety. These errors are often urgent and can prompt rapid responses or corrective actions from crew members or safety systems. Addressing these errors effectively requires robust training and situational awareness for pilots and crew members to recognize potential mistakes before they escalate into more significant safety incidents.

The other options relate to different types of errors. For example, latent errors are more insidious and often reside within the system, building up over time before they manifest as problems. Errors due to system failures are typically mechanical or operational breakdowns rather than human actions, and following a procedure correctly would not constitute an error at all. Each type of error serves its role in understanding aviation safety, but it is the immediate and noticeable nature of active errors that defines them clearly.