Aerospace Human Factors Research
Carla Hackworth, Ph.D., Manager
CAMI’s Aerospace Human Factors Research Division conducts field and laboratory research supporting the performance of front-line aviation personnel, including pilots, air traffic controllers, aviation maintainers, dispatchers, avionics (technical operations) technicians, flight attendants, and ramp workers, with the goal of improving operational efficiency and safety. Aerospace Human Factors research program domains are:
Integrating new and advanced information processing technologies, displays, systems, and operational concepts into the aviation environment can improve safety, access, efficiency, and throughput dramatically. This integration may reduce infrastructure and life cycle costs. Empirical research answers critical questions about these factors and informs the development of new policy, safety standards, and approval criteria.
Recent work:
- Fercho, K. A., Beringer, D. B., & Donovan, C. (2023). The Role of Human Factors in Evaluating and Updating Requirements for Flight Deck Displays and Controls. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 67(1), 57-62.
- Newton, D., Mofle, T., Hu, P. (2023). Human factors evaluation of commercial aviation, low intensity, iteration 2 (CALI-2) laser eye protection. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/19). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Torrence, B., Durham, J., DiDomenica, R., Choi, I., & Tanner, B. (2024). A Qualitative Review of Extended Reality-Enabled Remote Collaboration: Human Factors Considerations and Implications for NAS Maintenance Practices. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-24/12). Federal Aviation Administration.
Human operators in the airspace system have biophysical capabilities and limitations that affect task performance. Research identifies minimum human performance standards and informs equipment design, including inherent capabilities and performance filters, psycho-physiological minima, and viable mitigations or accommodations.
Recent work:
- Baumgartner, H. M., DiDomenica R., Hu, P. T., & Thomas, S. (2024). Pilot Perceptions of Wire Strikes in Agricultural Aviation Operations. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 95(6), pp. 305-312.
- Baumgartner, H. M. (2023). Wire strikes and in-air obstacle collisions during agricultural aviation operations. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 94(11), pp. 852–856.
- Hilditch, C. J., Gregory, K. B., Arsintescu, L., Bathurst, N. G., Nesthus, T. N., Baumgartner, H. M., Lamp, A. C. M., Barger, L. K., & Flynn-Evans, E. E. (2023). Perspectives on fatigue in short-haul flight operations from US pilots: a focus group study. Transport Policy, 136, pp. 11-20.
- Durham, J., Hu, P. T., Baumgartner, H. M., & Nesthus, T. (2023). UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Fatigue. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/11). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Baumgartner, H. M., Nesthus, T., & Avers, K. (2022). Findings from the FAA Fatigue Working Group (2018-2021) (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-22/09). Federal Aviation Administration.
Examining and considering the human performance impacts of system design and automation is critical for optimizing aerospace system operations while maintaining our standards for aviation safety. Optimizing the relationship between humans and technology requires focus on a complex set of factors, including the system design, task automation, and the procedures involved.
Recent work:
- Kratchounova, D., Baumgartner, H., Smith, C., Underwood, M., Langebrake, L., George, T., & White, A. (2023). Feasibility, Utility and Usability of Pilot Reports PIREPS Submission and Retrieval Using VHF Radio, Cloud Computing and Artificial Intelligence Tech. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/37). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Williams, K., Mofle, T., Hu, P. (2023). UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Training Requirements. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/09). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Williams, K., Mofle, T., Hu, P. (2023). UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Crew and Staffing Requirements. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/10). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Williams, K., Mofle, T., Hu, P. (2023). UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: KSAO Requirements. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/12). Federal Aviation Administration.
A variety of aviation occupations exist to keep the aerospace system safe and efficient. Optimizing the aviation workforce is critical to the sustainability of a safe aerospace system over time and through workforce changes. Assessing technical training methods and technologies used for training technical operations technicians, air traffic controllers, aviation maintainers, and pilots with clear measurable performance criteria is key to understanding successful approaches.
Recent work:
- Torrence, B., Barrett, J., Ho, T. (2023). Evaluation of Online Stress Management Training for Air Traffic Controllers: Comparing Training Effectiveness across Online and In-Person Formats. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/36). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Long, C. L. (2022). Perceptions of Factors Influencing Effectiveness of ATC Field Training. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-22/02). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Torrence, B., Long, C. L. (2022). An Evaluation of Virtual Basics for Air Traffic Control: Trainee Perceptions and Course Outcomes. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-22/05). Federal Aviation Administration.
Assessing the success of inter- and intra-organizational initiatives allows researchers to identify the factors that influence goal achievement, determine the effectiveness of the initiatives, and recommend changes to improve organizational effectiveness. Evaluation of safety culture, risk perception, and adherence within high reliability organizations provide stakeholders with critical information identifying gaps in communication, performance improvement, and cultural health.
Recent work:
- Key, K., Hu, P., Choi, I., Schroeder, D. (2023). Validation of the FAA Maintenance Safety Culture Assessment and Improvement Tool (FAA M-SCAIT). (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/14). Federal Aviation Administration.
- Worthington, K. K., Gay, R., Hu, P., Choi, I., Schroeder, D. (2023). Safety Culture Assessment by FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors. (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-23/39). Federal Aviation Administration.
Laboratories
This research is accomplished within two research laboratory groups, the National Airspace System (NAS) Safety Research Laboratory and the Safe Operations in Aviation Research (SOAR) Labs.
The National Airspace System (NAS) Safety Research Laboratory (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. This research involves air traffic controllers, technical operations technicians, engineers, and support personnel.
The Safe Operations in Aviation Research (SOAR) Labs (AAM-510) is a full-spectrum research facility that covers every phase of flight from pre-flight to landing and maintenance and can replicate more than 95% of the NAS and supports every active type of flight operation. This research involves pilots, flight attendants, maintenance technicians, cargo load supervisors, ramp operators, and inspectors.