REDAC / Human Factors

Name of Program: Flight Deck, Maintenance, 

System Integration (“Core Flight Deck HF”)

BLI Number: A11G (8AA)

Presenter Name: Chuck Perala

Date: March 24, 2021

Review of FY 2021 - 2024 

Proposed Portfolio
2

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration 

Overview

Program Scope

• This program addresses research, engineering, and development requirements defined by technical 

sponsors in the Aviation Safety Organization (AVS). Requirements are driven by the human factors needs of 

FAA Aircraft Certification (AIR) and Flight Standards (AFS) personnel (field, Headquarters)

• This program also considers rapid changes to current-day technologies, procedures, and emerging issues

FAA Benefits

• Program outputs are transferred to AVS technical sponsors to develop and maintain, as appropriate, 

human factors-related rules, guidance, procedures, Orders, standards, job aids, and other materials 

• Work products benefit AIR and AFS personnel responsible for the evaluation, certification, approval, and 

continued airworthiness of aircraft; and the certification of pilots and mechanics

Measures of Success

1. Sponsor Satisfaction – did the research meet AVS’s needs?

2. Access to Research – is there sufficient awareness/access to results?

3. Application of Results – did the research support or inform a data-driven decision?

4. Contribution to Safety – how did the research support improvements to human and system performance?
3

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration 

Program Managers and Performers

Program Managers

• Tara Holmes, Division Manager (Tara.Holmes@faa.gov)

• Chuck Perala, Program Manager (Chuck.Perala@faa.gov)

Performers and Laboratories

• FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI)

• Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, DOT

• FAA Center of Excellence for Technical Training and Human Performance (COE TTHP)

• Auburn University

• Wichita State University

• PEGASUS Consortium

• University of Central Florida

• University of Michigan
Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration – Accomplishments in FY21

4

Project Description/Product Vendor

Pilot Performance Using HUD, SVGS, and 

Flight Director During the Instrument 

Segment of an Approach

Experiment Test Plan

Developed a human factors test plan to evaluate pilot performance, human factors, and crew workload considerations 

during the instrument segment of a CAT I ILS approach using the following technology combinations: Flight director on a 

head-down display (HDD) [baseline] vs. flight director on a head-up display (HUD) with HUD symbology; Synthetic Vision 

Guidance System (SVGS) on an HDD vs. SVGS on a HUD

CAMI

Quantifying the contribution of HUD to 

Pilot Performance on Approaches Where 

HUD is Used, But Not Required, to 

Transition to Landing (visual segment of SA 

CAT I approach)

Pilot Task Analysis Document

Identified the cognitive and physical tasks performed by a dual pilot crew during Part 121 flight operations (all phases of 

flight) in a transport category aircraft. This task analysis will be used to develop an experiment test plan.

CAMI

Evaluation of Human Factors and Crew 

Coordination Aspects of Dual HUD CAT III 

Operations Compared to Single HUD CAT III 

Operations

Pilot Task Analysis Document

Evaluate human factors and crew coordination impacts when using dual HUD during CAT III approach, landing, & rollout 

operations vs. single HUD CAT III flight operations. Examine whether dual HUD provides the pilot monitoring with active 

monitoring capabilities (e.g., early detection of flightpath changes).

CAMI

Fatigue Mitigation in Flight Operations -

Short Haul Longitudinal Study

Experiment Test Plan

Research Plan for human factors/pilot performance considerations in flight operations involving short haul multiple 

segment workload and cumulative sleep lost across trip pairings. CAMI
5

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration Ongoing and 

Anticipated Research in FY21+

Ongoing Research Activities – Advanced Vision

Project Description/Product Vendor Est. Completion

Quantifying the contribution of HUD to Pilot 

Performance on Approaches Where HUD is Used, 

But Not Required, to Transition to Landing (visual 

segment of SA CAT I approach)

Evaluate pilot performance and human factors considerations when using a HUD (flight 

information only) during the visual segment of an SA CAT I ILS approach or during the visual 

segment of approaches that have a high DA and long visual segment

CAMI FY2023 Q1

Evaluation of HF & Crew Coordination Aspects of 

Dual HUD CAT III Operations Compared to Single 

HUD CAT III Operations. Evaluate Whether Active 

Monitoring Improves Crew Performance Over a 

Baseline Condition 

‒ Evaluate human factors and crew coordination impacts when using dual HUD during CAT III 

approach, landing, and rollout operations vs. single HUD CAT III flight operations

‒ Examine whether dual HUD provide the pilot monitoring with active monitoring 

capabilities (e.g. early detection of flightpath changes)

CAMI TBD due to COVID

Pilot Performance Using HUD, SVGS, and Flight 

Director During the Instrument Segment of an 

Approach

‒ Evaluate the implementation of SVGS technology and flight director information on a 

head-up display (HUD)

‒ Examine pilot performance and human factors considerations when SVGS-HUD with flight 

director is used during the instrument segment of a CAT I ILS approach

CAMI TBD due to COVID

Pilot Performance and Operational Impacts 

Associated with using a HUD to Conduct CAT II and 

CAT III Approaches Using Other than ALSF I or ALSF II 

Approach Lighting Systems

Examine pilot performance and human factors considerations when using a HUD (flight 

information only) to conduct CAT II and CAT III approaches to a runway with using alternate 

approach lighting systems (other than ALSF I, ALSF II)

CAMI FY2022 Q3

Pilot Performance and Human Factors 

Considerations using SVGS on an SA CAT I Approach 

with Less than a MALSR Approach Lighting System

Examine pilot performance and human factors considerations when using SVGS-HDD to 

conduct an SA CAT I ILS approach to a runway with an approach lighting systems that has 

fewer visual characteristics than a MALSR approach lighting system

CAMI FY2022 Q4
6

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration Ongoing and 

Anticipated Research in FY21+

Ongoing Research Activities – Advanced Vision (cont.)

Project Description/Product Vendor Est. Completion

Development of Aircraft Evaluation Group (AEG) 

Pilot Evaluation Tools for new EFVS Systems

Development of Aircraft Evaluation Group (AEG) 

Pilot Evaluation Tools for new SVGS Systems

Develop AEG pilot evaluation tools for new enhanced flight vision systems (EFVS) and 

synthetic vision guidance systems (SVGS) to support core AEG responsibilities, including 

evaluation of: 1) Aircraft and associated systems for operational suitability, 2) Flightcrew

training requirements (Flight Standardization Board), 3) Minimum equipment required for 

dispatch (Flight Operations Evaluation Board), 4) Continued Airworthiness (Maintenance 

Review Board), and 5) Review and acceptance of Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 

(ICA).

CAMI FY2023 Q3

Establish an Empirical Basis for the Minimum Visual 

Features & Visual Aids a Pilot Must See to Safely 

Takeoff During Lower than Standard Takeoff Minima 

Operations Using Natural Vision (HUD, no HUD) or 

Advanced Vision Systems

Examine whether the visual aids currently required for low visibility takeoff operations are 

necessary, whether these operations could be implemented on narrower runways with 

fewer visual aids, & whether the use of advanced vision systems, which have limited fields of 

view but increased forward sight distance, impact what a pilot must see in any substantive 

way over that of natural vision

CAMI FY2023 Q4
7

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration Ongoing and 

Anticipated Research in FY21+

Ongoing Research Activities – Training and Checking Methods

Project Description/Product Vendor Est. Completion

Training the Emerging Pilot Workforce

Provide scientific and technical efficacy data on potential FAA training and 

checking methods for the current and projected pilot workforce; areas of 

emphasis include information management, decision-making, and 

command judgment

Auburn 

University FY2023 Q1

Modern Training Practices: Methods and 

Assessment in the Air Carrier Industry 

(Distance Learning)

Provide recommendations to help decide which topics, skills, and 

knowledge in aviation training are appropriate for modern training 

practices, and which are better suited for other learning methods

University 

of Central 

Florida

FY2022 Q4

Crew Resource Management (CRM) section 

of the Reference Document for Flight 

Standards Human Factors (RDFSHF)

Develop a single-source reference document for human factors-related rules 

and guidance that pertain to CRM, including relevant issues to consider 

when AFS personnel evaluate CRM aspects of proposed operations, 

procedures, and training

University 

of Central 

Florida

FY2022 Q4
8

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration Ongoing and 

Anticipated Research in FY21+

Ongoing Research Activities – Maintenance / RBDM

Project Description/Product Vendor Est. Completion

Maintenance Human Factors - Safety 

Culture

Understand the current state of maintenance safety risk management, and 

examine the effectiveness of applied tools to verify and address potential 

human factors vulnerabilities

CAMI FY2022 Q1

Maintenance Human Factors – Failure to 

Follow Procedures

Propose and test the effectiveness of human factors countermeasures for 

failure to follow procedures (FFP) CAMI FY2022 Q2
9

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration Ongoing and 

Anticipated Research in FY21+

Ongoing Research Activities – Fatigue Mitigation in Flight Operations

Project Description/Product Vendor Est. Completion

Fatigue Risk Management System 

(FRMS) Database

Analyze operational data to assess and monitor the reported pilot performance impact(s) of flight 

operations conducted outside the table limits of 14 CFR Part 117 (Flight and Duty Limitations and Rest 

Requirements for Flightcrew Members).

CAMI FY2022 Q4

Short Haul Longitudinal Study

Collect objective data to characterize the impact of high frequency multiple segment flight operations, 

including early start times, nighttime arrivals, etc., to pilot fatigue and cumulative sleep loss across trips 

pairings.

CAMI TBD due to COVID

Long Range/Ultra-Long-Range (LR/ULR) 

Study

Develop a draft human factors research plan evaluate the behavioral adaptation of pilots to multiple time 

zone shifts. CAMI TBD due to Funding
10

Flight Deck, Maintenance, System Integration Ongoing and 

Anticipated Research in FY21+

Ongoing Research Activities – Avionics and New Technologies

Project Description/Product Vendor Est. Completion

Electronic Flight Bag Survey and Additional 

Survey Data Analysis

Gather human factors data to understand how pilots access and manage 

information used for EFB functions Volpe FY2021 Q3

General Guidance Document Update, 

Version 3.0

Review FAA rules, guidance, Technical Standards Orders (TSOs), industry 

documents, and human factors literary sources to incorporate relevant 

changes into Version 3.0 of the General Guidance Document (GGD)

Volpe FY2023 Q2

Visual Scanning Techniques in Transport 

Category Aircraft

Understand the visual scanning techniques used by pilots in transport 

category aircraft to provide the FAA with a data-driven foundation for 

identifying the acceptability of design assumptions and mitigations for new 

flight deck layouts/designs

University 

of Michigan FY2023 Q2
Chuck H. Perala, Ph.D.

Program Manager, Core Flight Deck Research 

NextGen Human Factors Division (ANG-C1)

chuck.perala@faa.gov

202.267.0768

11

Questions?