FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-21/14

Title and Subtitle: Annotated Bibliography (1990 - 2019): Knowledge, Skills, and Tests for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Air Carrier Operations

Report Date: June 2021

Authors: Torrence B, Nelson B, Thomas GF, Nesmith BL, Williams KW

Abstract: The integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS) requires a thorough understanding of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) needed for UAS operations. As UASoperations expand beyond Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 107, there is an increasing need for theFederal Aviation Administration (FAA) to standardize pilot requirements, certification requirements, and testing and trainingrequirements, particularly for air carrier and commercial operations. Part 107 does not address air carrier operations; andexisting air carrier rules, found in 14 CFR Parts 121 and 135, were not written with UAS in mind. As it stands, there is a gap inour understanding of the minimum knowledge, skills, and testing needed for various UAS operations, which poses a challengefor FAA rulemaking.

This annotated bibliography seeks to bridge this gap by documenting the knowledge, skill, and testingrequirements for pilots of unmanned aircraft operations based on a review of the research literature. This annotated bibliographywill support FAA rulemaking efforts by the FAA's Flight Standard Service General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS800) for UAS operations over people, expanded operations, and non-segregated operations as well as efforts by the AirTransportation Division (AFS-200) for developing UAS air carrier regulatory requirements.

Articles were collected from Google Scholar and FAA Technical Library databases. Eighty-eight articles were identified as relevant, including empirical studies,qualitative reviews, and regulation/guideline documents. This annotated bibliography is structured into four main sections: UASKnowledge, UAS Skill, UAS Testing and Training, and UAS Operations. The documentation of KSAOs required of UAS pilotscan inform FAA rulemaking by providing a foundation for the establishment of minimum pilot qualifications. Additionally,identifying minimum knowledge and skill requirements can inform UAS pilot training requirements.

This research effort, inaddition to other UAS research requirements (e.g., fatigue, crew and staffing), will support the FAA's rulemaking efforts thatpromote the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the NAS.

Key Words: unmanned aircraft systems, knowledge and skill requirements, testing requirements

No. of Pages: 101