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Aerospace Medical & Human Factors Research

Effect of Pelvic Loading during Anthropomorphic Test Device Storage

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/16

Title and Subtitle: Effect of Pelvic Loading during Anthropomorphic Test Device Storage

Report Date: January 2023

Authors:Hellstrom, Ian T.; Moorcroft, David M.

Abstract:As part of a larger project aimed at gaining a better understanding of...

Seat and Occupant Response in Energy Absorbing Seats

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/17

Title and Subtitle: Seat and Occupant Response in Energy Absorbing Seats

Report Date: June 2023

Authors:Taylor, Amanda M.; Moorcroft, David M.

Abstract:The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has undertaken research programs to support...

Integrating Commercial Healthcare Datasets for Aeromedical Risk Analyses

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/15

Title and Subtitle: Integrating Commercial Healthcare Datasets for Aeromedical Risk Analyses

Report Date: May 31, 2023

Authors:I. Lisann; J. O’Connor; S. Roessner

Abstract:The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aerospace...

Safety Culture Assessment and Continuous Improvement in Aviation: A Literature Review Abstract

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/13

Title and Subtitle: Safety Culture Assessment and Continuous Improvement in Aviation: A Literature Review

Report Date: May 2023

Authors: Key, K., Hu, P., Choi, I., Schroeder, D.

Abstract: The effectiveness of safety management depends on the organization having a positive safety culture, or the shared values, actions, and behaviors that demonstrate a commitment to safety over competing goals and demands. However, despite the recognized importance of safety culture, organizations may neither be equipped to establish the benefits of safety culture (e.g., clear linkages to safety outcomes), nor to develop assessment methods, nor to improve safety culture based information collected from the assessments. In support of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) efforts to promote a positive safety culture, we reviewed the literature on safety culture assessment and promotion. The literature reveals the development of a deeper understanding of safety culture, identifies a wide range of individual and organizational outcomes to include in assessments, provides interpretive theoretical frameworks, and summarizes preliminary investigations of intervention strategies.

Key Words: safety culture, organizational culture, assessment, human factors, aviation 

No. of Pages: 74

UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: KSAO Requirements Abstract

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/12

Title and Subtitle: UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: KSAO Requirements

Report Date: March 2023

Authors: Williams, K., Mofle, T., Hu, P.

Abstract: There is an increasing demand to utilize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for an array of new applications currently outside the scope of written regulation, including air taxi services, package delivery, crop dusting, and more. The Code of Federal Regulations for aircraft operations (14 CFR) is restrictive to air carrier applications for UAS. In particular, small UAS (sUAS) regulations (14 CFR § 107) do not explicitly address air carrier operations (14 CFR § 121 and § 135). Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics (KSAO) requirements have been researched extensively in traditionally piloted aircraft operations, but recent and continuing developments in UAS applications and UAS automation have resulted in changing roles and responsibilities for crewmembers. The efforts of this survey subject matter experts (SMEs) will help inform current and planned future UAS operations, and support regulators in setting regulations from last-mile to high-altitude-long-endurance operations so that these novel applications of UAS can be integrated safely into the National Airspace System (NAS). Findings will inform future regulations concerning UAS operator KSAOs in air carrier operations. Standardizing UAS operator KSAO requirements will support the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the NAS, and this remains an important initiative for the FAA and industry stakeholders.

Key Words: unmanned aircraft systems, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other, KSAO requirements, air carrier operations, training, testing, knowledge 

No. of Pages: 122

UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Fatigue Abstract

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/11

Title and Subtitle: UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Fatigue

Report Date: March 2023

Authors: Durham, J., Hu, P., Baumgartner, H., Nesthus, T.

Abstract: There is an increasing demand to utilize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for new applications currently outside the scope of written regulation, such as taxi services, package delivery, and crop dusting. The Code of Federal Regulations on Aeronautics and Space (14 CFR) are restrictive to air carrier applications for UAS. In particular, small UAS (sUAS) regulations (14 CFR § 107 [Federal Regulation for Commercial sUAS]) do not explicitly address air carrier operations (codified under 14 CFR § 121 [Federal Regulation for Air Carriers and § 135[Federal Regulation for Commuter Air Operations]). Duty time, shift work, and fatigue requirements have been extensively researched in manned operations, but recent and continuing developments in UAS applications and UAS automation have resulted in changes to work elements, and ultimately to operator fatigue. This Market Survey regarding UAS operator fatigue will help inform future policy and regulations associated with UAS operations so that novel applications of UAS can be integrated safely into the National Airspace System (NAS).Survey results found a majority of organizations have 10 or fewer drone operator pilots with an average of 7 years of experience. The majority of respondents indicated that the anticipated average in-flight time for air carrier delivery operations is 30 min or less and that for air taxi services the anticipated average in-flight time is higher, at 1 hour or less. A majority of respondents disagreed that fatigue represents a safety concern, but expressed some variation on how much time on duty is risky for operator fatigue. Respondents indicated that they work relatively regular weeks with 1-3 days off between shifts and routine breaks during shifts. A large proportion of respondent organizations provide fatigue awareness and fatigue management training, and also appear to provide mechanisms for reporting crewmember fatigue when it represents a safety concern. However, a majority of organizations do not maintain records about the prevalence of fatigue even though a majority of respondents reported experiencing fatigue themselves while on duty and that workload and work schedules might be factors contributing to fatigue while on duty. Recommendations for standardizing UAS duty time, shift work, fatigue awareness and educational requirements are suggested for supporting the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the NAS.

Key Words: unmanned aircraft systems, duty time, shift work, operator fatigue, air carrier operations, human factors, pilot flight duty

No. of Pages: 93
 

UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Training Requirements

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/09

Title and Subtitle: UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Training Requirements

Report Date: March 2023

Authors: Williams, K., Mofle, T., Hu, P.

Abstract: There is an increasing demand to utilize unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for an array of new applications currently outside the scope of written regulations, such as air taxi services, package delivery, and crop dusting. The Code of Federal Regulations on Aeronautics and Space (14 CFR) is restrictive to air carrier applications for UAS. In particular, small UAS (sUAS) regulations (14 CFR § 107 [Federal Regulation for Commercial sUAS]) do not explicitly address air carrier operations. Regulations relevant to air carrier operations (14 CFR § 121 [Federal Regulation for Air Carriers] and § 135 [Federal Regulation for Commuter Air Operations]) were not written to include the use of UAS. Training requirements have been extensively researched in traditionally piloted aircraft operations (see Torrence et al., 2020), but recent and continuing developments in UAS applications and UAS automation have resulted in changing roles and responsibilities for crewmembers. Training literature was gathered in an annotated bibliography, and experts in both industry and academia were surveyed about current and future policies from their companies to gauge the future direction of UAS operations. This survey will help inform current and planned future UAS operations related to training. It will also allow for regulations of last-mile and high-altitude-long-endurance operations so that these novel applications of UAS can be safely integrated into the National Airspace System (NAS). Findings may inform future regulations concerning UAS training for crewmembers related to air carrier operations and potentially help standardize these requirements. Altogether, this will support the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the NAS.

Key Words: unmanned aircraft systems, UAS Training, UAS Training requirements, air carrier operations, testing, knowledge 

No. of Pages: 106

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