Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-06/8

Title and Subtitle: Human Factors Implications of Unmanned Aircraft Accidents: Flight-Control Problems

Report Date: April 2006

Authors: Williams KW

Abstract: This research focuses on three types of flight control problems associated with unmanned aircraft systems. The three flight control problems are:

1. external pilot difficulties with inconsistent mapping of the controls to the movement of the aircraft;
2. difficulties associated with the transfer of control from one control location to another during the flight; and
3. problems associated the automation of flight control. Specific accidents associated with each type of control problem are given as examples. The accidents involve several different aircraft systems that are currently in use. Solutions for each type of control problem are offered.

Key Words: Unmanned Aircraft Systems, UAV, Flight Controls, Accidents, Human Factors

No. of Pages: 9