FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-26/09

Title and Subtitle: 
Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Evaluation Division Operations and Human Factors Evaluation Aid for Synthetic Vision Guidance Systems

Report Date: February 2026

Authors: Kelene A. Fercho and Bryan L. Watson

Abstract: 
This evaluation aid is designed to assist the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Evaluation Division (AED)personnel in evaluating the human factors aspects of a synthetic vision guidance system (SVGS) and aircraft combination for operational suitability evaluations and operational evaluations. This aid supports the evaluation of new or modified SVGSs on different types of aircraft and with different display implementations. This aid may facilitate early identification of human factors issues that may influence safety or human performance during tasks, procedures, maneuvers, or operations conducted with an SVGS. Additionally, the use of this aid may support AED personnel in reviewing the applicant’s Evaluation Plan and may facilitate the development of an AED Summary Report, Flight Standardization Board Report, Letter of Authorization, Letter of Authorization Report, Operational Suitability Letter, Operational Suitability Report, or Type Inspection Authorization. This aid takes the form of a workbook, and each chapter can be used alone or in conjunction with other chapters. This aid comprises five chapters and one appendix—“Introduction”; “Operational Suitability Evaluation”; “Operational Evaluation: Training Recommendations”; “Operational Evaluation: Checking Recommendations”; “Operational Evaluation: Currency Recommendations”; and “Appendix: Key References for the Federal Aviation Administration Aircraft Evaluation Division Operations and Human Factors Evaluation Aid for Synthetic Vision Guidance Systems.” The “Operational Evaluation: Training Recommendations” and “Operational Evaluation: Checking Recommendations” chapters also include decision trees to support the determination of training difference levels or checking difference levels for a modified SVGS and aircraft combination, respectively. Links to key FAA regulatory, policy, and guidance materials are provided within each chapter and in the appendix.

Key Words: 
Advanced vision systems, aircraft evaluation division, checking, currency, evaluation aid, human factors, operational evaluation, operational suitability evaluation, synthetic vision guidance system, synthetic vision system, SVS, SVGS, training

No. of Pages: 224