Dr. Thomas A. Van Dillen (PDF)
Branch Manager
Thomas.A.Van.Dillen@faa.gov

The National Airspace System (NAS) Safety Research Laboratory (NAS-SR) (AAM-520) of the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute’s (CAMI) Human Factors Research Division (AAM-500) is responsible for conducting research that includes safety related human factors for FAA air traffic control and technical operations. Human factors is the application of psychological and physiological principles to the design of processes, and systems. The application of these principles has value in its ability to reduce life-cycle costs and improve system safety and efficiency. Our human factors research is organized into five research categories. These categories align with the support goals set forth by the NextGen Human Factors Division (ANG-C1) which in turn were articulated to align with U.S. Code Title 49, Section 44506.

Researchers at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) have been providing data and analyses to answer aviation safety related human factors questions for over 60 years. The mission of AAM-500 within CAMI is to be a leader in aviation human factors research using innovative research methodologies to inform aviation advances in technology, operations, and human performance as well as empower data-driven decision-making that improves efficiency of the NAS and leads the world in aviation safety. AAM-500 personnel working toward those goals include Principle Investigators (PI’s), Psychology Technicians, Statisticians, Program Managers, and Simulation Specialists among others. Principle Investigators are typically trained in specialized skills gained from human factors related educational backgrounds such as Cognitive Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology and gain experience in air transportation subject matter while applying those skills. PI’s work in one of two branches within AAM-500. They work in either AAM-510, which primarily focuses on flight deck human factors, or AAM-520, which primarily focuses on air traffic and technical operations human factors.

AAM-520 conducts sponsor driven research. Sponsors can be a variety of entities within the FAA who have identified operational issues with a human factors component to resolve or who recognize the potential of human factors research to improve or enhance an otherwise issue free system or process. Sponsors outside ANG-C1 are usually not required to fund research conducted by AAM-520. Researchers will work with sponsors to define research requirements that address the operational need. These requirements become candidate research tasks for AAM-520 to undertake. Examples of tasks are included in each of the five categories described below. Although requirements must usually be in the scope of one of the five categories described in this document, it is sometimes possible to make exceptions for other aviation safety related human factors tasks.

Optimize ATC and Tech Ops Workforces

The safety and efficiency of the NAS is dependent on people having the right skills, providing them the training and resources at the right time, and understanding how changes to the job impact performance and workforce needs.

Our research identifies the individual contributors to job success and identifies the safety-related aspects of human capabilities that impact performance of air traffic control and technical operations personnel in the NAS. Topics include investigating the impact of age and age-related effects on human performance, documenting the competency requirements of the Technical Operations workforce, developing job task methodologies to inform career planning tools, and identifying successful controller scanning characteristics for the development of scanning training tools.

Automation and Controller Performance

Automation will play a critical role in the future safety and efficiency of the NAS as more automated systems are integrated into the aviation environment. Increased human-automation interaction requires understanding the human factor and design features that promote acceptance, utilization, trust, and human performance. These topics will become more important as automated systems become more autonomous and assume teammate-like roles with human users.

Our research studies the impact of automation on controller performance and investigates the human factors considerations needed for fostering effective human-automation interactions. Topics include identifying and investigating metrics for assessing human-automation teaming performance, and investigating skill degradation concerns as a result of automation.

NAS Technology Integration

Advanced and immersive technologies have the capacity to enhance and augment human performance in safety-critical domains. As these technologies are integrated into the aviation environment, new operations, procedures, and strategies are likely to be developed. Human factors research can help ensure that technologies are designed and implemented in a way that promotes optimal implementation and supports the safety and efficiency of the NAS.

Our research explores the impact of new, advanced technologies on human performance and the human factors considerations for the design and integration of new technology. Topics include examining the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies for Technical Operations maintenance and training support and developing laboratory capabilities for evaluating new technologies.

Human Factors in Error Mitigation and Improved Safety

Human error is frequently identified as a factor in incidents where safety levels were compromised. Human factors knowledge elicitation and data analyses techniques have proven valuable to the identification of the causes of error and the development of mitigations. Topics include the development of objective controller performance measures, analyses of the contribution of air traffic controllers to wrong surface landings, and an examination of the phenomenon of inattentional blindness in the air traffic control domain.

Controller and Technician Selection, Placement, and Training

The safety-critical nature of air traffic control and technical operations necessitates that selected candidates and trainees possess the aptitudes required for success. Investigation of accurate and reliable assessment techniques can improve and modernize selection practices, and lead to better person-job fit. Similarly, new training methodologies and technologies can improve the learning experience, enhance skill acquisition, and modernize the agency’s approach to employee training.

Our research identifies the job tasks, knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), and competencies required of controllers and technicians at various points in their career (i.e., at entry, training and on-the-job), studies individual factors impacting job performance, evaluates novel assessment techniques for aptitude measurement, investigates new training technologies and solutions, and documents the influence on selection, placement, and training processes. Topics include studying stress management training and techniques for air traffic controllers, evaluating virtual training methodologies, and supporting the development of simulation training for the Command Center.