UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Crew and Staffing Requirements

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/10

Title and Subtitle: UAS Air Carrier Operations Survey: Crew and Staffing 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 taxi services, package delivery, crop dusting, and more. Current regulations (i.e., 14 C.F.R. § 107) are restrictive to air carrier applications for UAS. In particular, small UAS (sUAS) regulations (14 C.F.R. § 107) do not explicitly address air carrier operations (codified under 14 C.F.R. § 121 and § 135). Crew and staffing requirements have not been researched extensively in unmanned 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 will help inform future 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). An annotated bibliography was performed to synthesize crew and staffing literature and a survey of experts in industry and academia was conducted to gather insights about current and future policies from their companies. Findings will inform future regulations concerning UAS operators in air carrier operations. Standardizing UAS operator crew and staffing 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, crew requirements, air carrier operations, duty and rest requirements, training, testing, knowledge

No. of Pages: 95

Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/08

Title and Subtitle: Human Factors in Helicopter Air Ambulance Operations Annotated Bibliography (2014 – 2022)

Report Date: February 2023

Authors: Hannah M. Baumgartner, Rebecca DiDomenica, Justin Durham, Peter T. Hu

Abstract: Helicopter air ambulance (HAA) operations involve particularly challenging conditions, including landing at unfamiliar, remote, or unimproved sites with terrain and obstacle hazards, and involve urgent or time-sensitive situations. Associated human factors (HF) issues including fatigue, stress, human error, and perceived pressure to fly compound the challenging nature of HAA operations. This report aims to inform the current understanding of HF risks and considerations within HAA operations spanning 2014 – 2022 through a focused review of flightcrew fatigue considerations, environmental conditions, areas for increased training opportunities, and other operational risk factors

Keywords: Helicopter air ambulance; human factors; fatigue; training 

No. of Pages: 60
 

Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No:DOT/FAA/AM-23/02

Title and Subtitle: RNA-Seq Alignment and Differential Expression Software Comparison

Report Date: January, 2023

Authors: Munster SK, Nicholson SJ, Uyhelji HA

Abstract: The twofold goals for this study were to determine an optimum choice for ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) alignment software and to determine which differential expression software packages produced consistent and accurate results. RNA was extracted from blood and pooled to produce homogenous sample material to ensure that any differential expression between samples was attributable to characteristics of downstream processing or software choice. Also, simulated sequence data were produced with a known rate of differential expression. After RNA-Seq, all datasets had alignments (or pseudoalignments) performed by Bowtie2, HISAT2, kallisto, RSEM, Rsubread, Salmon, and STAR. Feature counts were tabulated and analyzed for differential expression using ALDEx2, baySeq, DEGseq, DESeq2, edgeR, limma, NOISeq, PoissonSeq, and SAMseq (samr), and results were compared. Findings indicated that kallisto, Salmon, and STAR provided superior mapping performance, were quickest, and had the smallest output file size compared to the others tested. The differential expression software DESeq2, edgeR, and limma had the most accurate true positive rate with simulated data and consistently performed as expected with real datasets.

Key Words: RNA-Seq, alignment, differential expression

No. of Pages:41

Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No:DOT/FAA/AM-23/01

Title and Subtitle: An Evaluation of the Downstream Effects of Purification Methods on RNA-Seq Differential Expression

Report Date: January 2023

Authors: Munster SK, Uyhelji HA, Nicholson SJ

Abstract: Ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) is a valuable and commonly used technique to quantify the number of individual RNA transcripts within a sample. RNA-Seq typically requires a small amount of pure and concentrated RNA, which can necessitate additional concentration or purification of previously isolated RNA samples. Magnetic beads and silica-based columns are often used to concentrate and/or purify RNA samples, but little is known about how these techniques influence downstream analyses. In this study, we collected blood from volunteer human subjects and pooled those samples during RNA extraction to minimize variance due to input material. We then purified aliquots of that sample pool to evaluate how sample purification and concentration influenced gene expression observations. Extracted RNA was sequenced, and the resulting RNA-Seq files were evaluated to determine the degree of differential expression between methods. Differential expression was detected in roughly half of the comparisons made and appeared attributable at least partly to differences in sample concentration and purification techniques.

Key Words: RNA-Seq, sample purification, differential expression

No. of Pages: 27

RNA-Seq Alignment and Differential Expression Software Comparison

An Evaluation of the Downstream Effects of Purification Methods on RNA-Seq Differential Expression

Cerebral Blood Flow Based Computer Modeling of Gz-Induced Effects

CGEM User’s Guide

Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No:DOT/FAA/AM-23/6

Title and Subtitle: Cerebral Blood Flow Based Computer Modeling of Gz-Induced Effects

Report Date: January 24, 2023

Authors: K. Copeland; J. E. Whinnery (Ret.)

Abstract: Introduction: There is continued interest in acceleration (G) effects in civil aviation, as G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC), impaired consciousness, and visual effects play a role in aerobatic, agricultural, and military aviation accidents. Methods: A software model (the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute G-Effects Model [CGEM]) based on physical and physiological variables related to inflight tissue resupply, using oxygen flow as a proxy for supply availability, was developed to evaluate risk of G-LOC and related phenomena in aeronauts. Aeronauts were modeled using several parameters, including sex, cardiovascular fitness, and other common modifiers such as G-suits, positive pressure breathing gear, anti-G straining and other muscle-tensing. The software was validated by comparison with experimental data from the peer-reviewed literature. Results: CGEM predicted physiological effects of Gz exposure accurately, particularly for rapid onset rates. Predicted times to G-LOC and absolute incapacitation periods were consistently within one standard deviation of pooled results obtained during centrifuge experiments using USN and USAF pilots. Predictions of G tolerance based on visual effects onset also compared well with published data, as did evaluation of symptoms expected during a difficult aerobatic maneuver. Discussion: CGEM is a new tool for civil and military aviation. Rather than providing a simple G tolerance number, through proper selection of parameters flight surgeons, pilots, and accident investigators can gain insight into changes in risk from factors such fatigue, medications, dehydration, and anti-G countermeasures used.

Key Words: acceleration, aerobatics, G-LOC, G-tolerance, modeling

No. of Pages: 18

Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports

FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No:DOT/FAA/AM-23/5

Title and Subtitle:CGEM User’s Guide

Report Date: May 2021

Authors: Copeland, K.

Abstract: This report is a guide to the use of the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) G Effects Model (CGEM) software. The software models effects of extreme Gz accelerations, including visual symptoms, G-LOC, and return to consciousness following G-LOC. The software accommodates Gz acceleration profiles experienced by most civilian and military pilots and also reproduces historical centrifuge experiments. Effects such as dehydration and fatigue are readily accommodated through changes in physiological parameters. Future planned developments include extending the model to include monitoring additional brain centers, anti-G equipment failure, an improved lung function model, direct inclusion of a library of acceleration profiles for standard maneuvers used in aerobatics, and a more user-friendly means of inputting effects of pilot dehydration and fatigue beyond adjusting the current input parameters.

Key Words: G-LOC, blackout, aerobatics, peripheral light loss, G tolerance, acceleration

No. of Pages: 29