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AAR-100

**Human Factors Newsletter \# 01-04**

**(February 10, 2001 -- February 23, 2001)**

Human Factors Training Seminar (Sound): The FAA Human Factors Division
(AAR-100) is sponsoring a seminar for personnel interested in learning
more about the principles and measurement of sound. This is a 7-hour
module presented in conjunction with other human factors technical
workshops and seminars. It provides an overview of the principles of
acoustics especially related to design and testing of the auditory
acquisition of information in modern workstations. The seminar provides
a tutorial on the propagation of sound, physiology of hearing,
determinants of detection and discrimination (including those related to
masking, temporal resolution, loudness, pitch, and localization), the
measures of sound, instrumentation for noise measurement, and the use of
equipment to support acoustical design, measurement, and analysis. A
demonstration and hands-on familiarity with acoustic equipment will be
provided. The seminar will be conducted February 28^th^ from 8:30 AM
until 4:00 PM in the Bessie Coleman Auditorium. FAA contractors are
welcome if directed by their CO/COTR. There is no cost to attendees.
Reservations can be made by e-mail to Latonia Sewell
(<lsewell@cssiinc.com>) or by phone (484-3372). If you have questions
regarding the seminar, please contact Glen Hewitt (267-7163). (G.
Hewitt, AAR-100)

Human Factors Training Seminar (Human Factors Design Guide): The FAA
Human Factors Division (AAR-100) is sponsoring a seminar for personnel
interested in learning more about the recent update to the FAA Human
Factors Design Guide. The sessions will provide an overview of the
changes to the Design Guide (Chapter 8: Computer-Human Interface), why
the changes were necessary, and what they mean for the future. Areas of
interest include: the process used to update the chapter; organization,
format, style of the change; what is contained in the chapter (what\'s
new, why it\'s important); how the document should/could be used; and
what was learned during the update process (trends in CHI, future
considerations, lessons learned). The seminar will be conducted in
Conference Room 5AB in HQ, FAA on March 13th from 10:00 AM. until 12:00
PM. FAA contractors are welcome if directed by their CO/COTR. There is
no cost to attendees. Accommodations will be first-come, first-served.
If you have questions regarding the seminar, please contact Glen Hewitt
by e-mail (<glen.hewitt@faa.gov>) or by phone (267-7163). (G. Hewitt,
AAR-100)

Knowledge Management: A representative of the Office of the Chief
Scientist for Human Factors was requested to provide a briefing and
demonstration on the KMS2000 Knowledge Management System to the military
Special Operations Joint Command (SOC) at MacDill Air Force Base in
Florida. The SOC is attempting to develop similar system and wanted to
understand the FAA\'s technological approach. Based on the meeting, the
SOC requested limited access to KMS2000 to better explore the
capabilities. A similar briefing was presented to the Office of the
Secretary of Defense Committee on Interagency Collaboration. This
committee is charged with identifying collaboration tools that can be
utilized by the interagency community to leverage information in the
area of Research, Development, and Acquisition. (R. Simmons, AAR-100)

Knowledge Management: The Office of the Chief Scientist for Human
Factors reports that KMS2000 was selected as the Internet site to host
the FAA\'s Knowledge Management Community of Practice (FAA-KM-COP). The
FAA-KM-COP has been established to promote, facilitate, and encourage
collaboration and knowledge sharing within the FAA. (R. Simmons,
AAR-100)

News Media Visit: A reporter from the *Federal Times* visited the human
factors laboratory at the William J. Hughes Technical Center to gather
information on STARS and rapid prototyping research. Tanya Yuditsky and
Kenneth Alledoerfer demonstrated the CHI development on STARS, and Mike
Pomykacz and Larry Rovani described the rapid prototyping capability.
(E. Stein, WJHTC)

FAA, JAA, TCCA Human Factors Research Cooperation: FAA, Joint Aviation
Authorities (JAA), and Transport Canada (TCCA) recently committed to
increasing technical coordination and cooperation among their respective
research programs. One of three specific focus areas identified was
human factors. The first meeting of the joint human factors technical
team was February 6-8 at the William J. Hughes Technical Center. The
human factors technical team discussed regulatory and research
activities and decided on an initial collaborative research effort
involving an FAA project (Electronic Flight Bag) and a JAA project
(Certification of New Flight Deck Interfaces). The objective of the
FAA's Electronic Flight Bag research is to identify the human factors
considerations in the design and evaluation of Electronic Flight Bags.
The objective of the JAA's Certification of New Flight Deck Interfaces
research project is to provide a methodology to identify potential human
error and flight crew vulnerabilities during certification. The shared
activity will apply the methodology of the second project to the first
project. Results will be directly applicable to advisory material and
benefit safety by improving the methods of certifying new flight desk
interfaces. (T. McCloy, AAR-100)

ATC Communications: The FAA is introducing new decision aid technology
into the air traffic control (ATC) workforce. Although considerable
research has focused on the effects that these decision aids will have
on pilot-to-controller communication, relatively little research has
been conducted on how the decision aids will affect
controller-to-controller communication, specifically as they relate to
R-side and D-side ATC communications. The FAA is currently addressing
this lack of research through a collaborative effort between William J.
Hughes Technical Center and the Civil Aeromedical Institute. Human
factor researchers from both organizations are combining their resources
to explore the individual and collective impact that aircraft density,
ATC enroute team configuration, and different kinds of automated
decision aids have on controller-to-controller communications. The
current collaboration involves three experiments to be conducted over a
two-year span. In the first experiment, researchers will examine the
effects that aircraft density and automated decision support tools have
on the communication exchanges between enroute R-side and D-side ATC
teams. In the second experiment, researchers will examine the effects
that aircraft density and team configuration (two vs. three-person
teams) have on R-side and D-side communications. Finally, the design of
the first two experiments will be combined to examine the impact that
aircraft density, team configuration, and automated decision support
tools have on controller-to-controller communications. (L. Bailey, CAMI)

**HFACS:** A researcher from CAMI's Human Factors Research Laboratory
(AAM-510), briefed the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) on HFACS,
in Washington, DC, February 14-15. Discussion topics included
integration of the Human Factors Analysis and Classification System
(HFACS) into the FRA's safety program. A preliminary assessment of fatal
switching operation accidents was presented. It was determined that the
FRA would investigate the feasibility of contracting with the Volpe
Transportation Center to conduct a larger investigation of these
accidents using the HFACS framework. CAMI will continue to support this
One-DOT effort. (S. Shappell, CAMI)

**HFACS:** A briefing on the HFACS analysis of general aviation fatal
accidents was presented to sponsors in AFS-800. The data indicate that
the primary human error form associated with fatal accidents between
1990-98 are skill-based errors (roughly 80% of all fatal accidents).
This type of error more than doubles all other error types and provides
support for efforts aimed at improved initial and recurrent flight
training in general aviation. A comparison of fatal with non-fatal
general aviation accidents during this same time frame is underway at
CAMI. (S. Shappell, CAMI)

**Aviation Security Human Factors Program (AAR-510) Panel Review:**
AAR-510 held a panel review at FAA headquarters in Washington, DC, for
the Associate Administrator for Civil Aviation Security (ACS) and Civil
Aviation Security, Policy and Planning (ACP). During the review, AAR-510
presented a summary of their current projects, with a focus on the items
specific to the FY01 Developmental Implementation Plan. (C. George,
AAR-1)

**Voice Page:** Check out the FAA's VOICE page. It now includes -
virtually on a daily basis - news updates on what\'s happening around
the FAA and/or aviation. You can access these

updates at
[http://interweb.faa.gov/voice](http://interweb.faa.gov/voice ) under
\"Hot Topics.\" (G. Lavey, AOA-1)

# ***More information on human factors research can be found at***

***the FAA Human Factors (AAR-100) web site:***
[http://www.hf.faa.gov](http://www.hf.faa.gov/)

######### Mark D. Rodgers

FAA (AAR-100)

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**March 5-8, 2001** -- 11^th^ International Symposium on Aviation
Psychology, Columbus, OH
<http://aviation.eng.ohio-state.edu/sympos/11th/index.htm>

**March 13-15, 2001 --** The Advanced Technology Electronic Defense
Systems Conference and The Tactical Situational Awareness Symposium,
Shelter Pointe Hotel and Marina on Shelter Island, San Diego, CA [mail
to:AssenmacheTJ@navair.navy.mil](mailto:AssenmacheTJ@navair.navy.mil)

**March 18-20, 2001** -- National Aviation Environmental Conference,
Dallas, TX <http://www.airportnet.org/>

**March 21-23, 2001** -- International Symposium on Smart Graphics,
Hawthorne, NY <http://www.smartgraphics.org/>

**March 27-29, 2001**- The Fifteenth Symposium on Human Factors in
Aviation Maintenance, The Brewery Conference Centre, London, UK [mail
to: enquiries@conference
consultancy.com](mailto:mail to: enquiries@conference consultancy.com)

**March 31 -- April 5, 2001**- CHI 2001, Seattle, WA
<http://www.acm.org/chi2001>

**April 3-5, 2001** -- Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Conference and
Exhibition, Dallas, TX <http://www.aviationnow.com/>

**April 8-14, 2001** -- Sun 'n Fun EAA Fly-In, Lakeland, FL
<http://www.sun-n-fun.com/>

**April 24-26, 2001** -- 46^th^ Annual Corporate Aviation Safety
Seminar, Orlando, FL <http://www.nbaa.org/>

**April 30-May 2, 2001**- Regional Airline Association Convention,
Tampa, FL <http://www.raa.org/>

**May 3-4, 2001** -- Human Factors for Aviation Technicians Workshop,
Long Beach, CA [http:www.greyowl.com]()

**May 14-17, 2001 --** DOD Technical Advisory Group Meeting, Antler's
Adam's Mark Hotel, Colorado Springs, CO <http://dticam.dtic.mil/hftag/>

**June 3-8, 2001-** Society for Information Display, International
Symposium, Seminar & Exhibition, San Jose Convention Center, San Jose,
CA [mail to: pdrzaic@elink.com](mailto:mail to: pdrzaic@elink.com)

**June 17-24, 2001** -- Paris Air Show, Le Bourget, France
<http://www.promosalons.com/>

**July 8-11, 2001** -- ATCA 12^th^ Annual International Technical
Conference & Exhibition, Conrad International Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
<http://www.atca.org/>

**August 5-10, 2001 --** 9^th^ International Conference on
Human-Computer Interaction, New Orleans, LA
<http://hcii2001.engr.wisc.edu/>

**September 10-14, 2001** -- Aerospace Congress & Exhibition By
Aerospace North America and SAE, Washington State Convention and Trade
Center, Seattle, WA [mail to:kthomson@sae.org](mailto:kthomson@sae.org)

**September 18-20, 2001** -- NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention, New
Orleans, LA <http://www.nbaa.org/>

**October 8-12, 2001** -- Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 45^th^
Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN <http://www.hfes.org/>

######## **October 2001**- Annual Cabin Safety Research Technical Group Meeting, Taj Mahal Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 

**November, 2001 --** DOD Technical Advisory Group Meeting, San Diego,
CA <http://dticam.dtic.mil/hftag/>

**November 4-8, 2001 --** ATCA 46^th^ Annual International Program &
Exhibits, Washington Convention Center, Wash, D.C. <http://atca.org/>

***November 27-30, 2001** - The Third International Aviation Security
Technology Symposium, Tropicana Resort & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ,
sponsored by the FAA Aviation Security R&D Division and National Safe
Skies Alliance. Symposium topics include: Trace Detection, Bulk
Detection, Human Factors, Technical Integration, Operational Testing and
Evaluation, Deployment, Aircraft Hardening, Emerging Technologies, and
other related topics.
<http://www.safeskiesinternational.org/symposium_2001.htm>*

**December, 2001** -- EUROCONTROL Air Traffic Management R&D Seminar,
Santa Fe, New Mexico <http://eurocontrol.fr/>

**September 23-27, 2002** -- Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 46^th^
Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA <http://www.hfes.org/>

## Note: Calendar events in Italics are new since the last Newsletter

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Comments or questions regarding this newsletter?

Please contact Bill Berger at (202) 267-8532

or via e-mail at [bill.ctr.berger
\@faa.gov](mailto:bill.ctr.berger@faa.gov)