Human factors entails a multidisciplinary effort to generate and compile information about human capabilities and limitations and apply that information to equipment, systems, facilities, procedures, jobs, environments, training, staffing, and personnel management for safe, comfortable, effective human performance. The flight deck human factors discipline focuses on human performance aspects of flight deck systems design and analysis.

The rapid advances in flight deck automation technology have affected the manner in which the flight deck crew may safely manage the flight path of the airplane. Although the automatic systems have reduced or eliminated some types of pilot errors, those same automatic systems have introduced other types of errors. As new systems and operational concepts emerge, the complexity and novelty of flight deck human factors analysis increases.

The FAA's technical experts for Flight Deck Human Factors work to expand the agency's understanding of human performance and human error, human-machine interface and interaction, pilot training and qualification, and safety data analysis. They direct research and collaborate across the global aviation community to shape FAA policy, guidance, engineering standards, and training.

Kathy Abbott, PhD is FAA's Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Flight Deck Human Factors. Dr. Abbott can be contacted at kathy.abbott@faa.gov.

Colleen Donovan is FAA's Senior Technical Specialist for Flight Deck Human Factors. Ms. Donovan can be contacted at colleen.donovan@faa.gov.