Federal Aviation

Subcommittee on Administration

Human Factors

Fall 2013 Review

By: Kathy Abbott

Date: July 30, 2013

NextGen Flight Deck 

Human Factors
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen Flight Deck Human Factors

• Purpose: To conduct HF research & development oriented to 

NextGen changes to address specific NextGen Capabilities, 

Operational Improvements, and Segment Implementation Plan 

Increments.

• Benefits: To reduce risks associated with human performance 

while ensuring system safety and supporting NextGen efficiency 

and capacity goals. 

• Success: Results of research support development of standards, 

procedures, training, policy and other regulatory and guidance 

material as well as human factors assessments of NextGen 

technologies and procedures.

• Technical Sponsors: 

• AVS (AIR and AFS), ATO (Program Offices), ANG (NAS Lifecycle Integration 

Office, Office of the Chief Scientist)

2
Federal Aviation

Administration

FY13-FY16 NextGen Flight Deck HF Research 

Requirements Overview

3

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

NextGen: Complex Systems and Human Error

Formerly titled “Roles, Responsibilities, 

Airworthiness, and Operational Requirements for the 

Integration of Automated Systems and Functions in 

NextGen Aircraft Systems”

   

NextGen: Human Factors Guidelines for Advanced 

Instrument Procedure Design and Use    

NextGen: Procedures, Tasks, Skills and Training for 

NextGen Air Carrier Pilots and Dispatchers    

NextGen: Flight deck systems: flightcrew interfaces, 

installation, integration and operations    

NextGen: DataComm Human Factors R&D    
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Complex Systems and Human Error

FY 2013 Accomplishment/Issues

Research Requirement

Out Year Funding Requirements

• 66% - 75% of all accidents have pilot error as a 

primary factor

• Research needs to examine changing roles and 

responsibilities in human-system coordination, flight 

deck-ATC negotiation, and potential knowledge and 

skill loss 

• Results will be used to develop guidance for the 

design of standard operating procedures and 

operational policy for flight path management with 

respect to automation integration 

• Sponsor: Kathy Abbott (CSTA), Doug Farrow (AFS230), Cathy Swider (AIR-120)

• Report identifying human factors Issues regarding 

information automation 

• Reports will include data to support guidance on 

compliance with the human factors related regulations 

(e.g., 14 CFR § 121 Subparts N&O; 14 CFR § 121 

Subpart Y; 14 CFR §§ 2X.1301, proposed 25.1302, 

2X.1329)

FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 FY 17

$ 2,446 $ 3,200 $ 2,700 TBD TBD

4

Execution of the Requirement

• Performer(s)

 Honeywell

 Iowa State University (grant initiated March 

2013)

 NASA-Ames

• Start Date: Research ongoing from FY12 

requirement

• Current status: Green

Note: Funding for outyears (FY14+) is for planning purposes only.
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Complex Systems and Human Error

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Human factors issues analysis of information 

automation  

Conduct empirical evaluation of information 

automation  

Conduct literature review to identify issues and 

mitigations related to knowledge and skill loss 

Conduct evaluations of mitigations for knowledge 

and skill loss. 

Draft report providing information for the 

development of methods to support evaluation 

processes and certification specialists



Develop methods to address complexity/authority 

issues (e.g., what form could it take to show critical 

assumptions)


Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Human Factors Guidelines for Advanced 

Instrument Procedure Design and Use

FY 2013 Accomplishment/Issues

Research Requirement

Out Year Funding Requirements

• Conduct R&D to identify issues and develop human 

factors guidelines for the design, depiction, usability, 

and flyability of instrument procedures and associated 

charts for inclusion in advisory material and standards 

for instrument procedures and associated charting.

• R&D efforts address instrument procedure complexity 

and interactions between flight deck design 

implementations and surface and airborne operations 

for Part 91, 135, and 121 operators.

• Sponsors: Kathy Abbott (CSTA), Mark Steinbicker 

(AFS-470)

• Research results and recommendations will inform:

o Modifications to update and improve FAA Orders in the 

8260 series, FAA Order 8900.1, AC 120-76 and others 

o Minimum requirements and operational limitations for 

electronic chart displays and inclusion of selected 

chart data on various flight deck displays

o Human factors guidance for design characteristics 

influencing perceived instrument procedure complexity 

for NextGen operations

FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 FY 17

$ 515 $ 1,300 $ 1,300 TBD TBD

6

Execution of the Requirement

• Performer: US DOT Volpe Center

• Start Date: Research ongoing from FY 07

• Current status: Green

Note: Funding for outyears (FY14+) is for planning purposes only.
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Human Factors Guidelines for Advanced 

Instrument Procedure Design and Use

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Chart Format and Usability Studies  

RNAV Airways  

Electronic Charts  

Air-Ground Human Factors Considerations for 

RNAV/RNP Operations   

Human Factors Considerations for Procedure 

Designers    

Design and Evaluation of Flight Crew Procedures for 

PBN Operations   
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Procedures, Tasks, Skills and Training for 

NextGen Air Carrier Pilots and Dispatchers

FY 2013 Accomplishment/Issues

Research Requirement

Out Year Funding Requirements

• Existing FAA regulatory and guidance material does 

not address the new skill sets and modified task 

requirements pilots and dispatch personnel will need 

to safely transition to each incremental 

implementation of NextGen technology. 

• Research is needed to help the FAA generate the 

knowledge required to establish the new standards 

and issue the new training and checking guidelines 

for pilots and dispatchers as their jobs change in 

phased implementation of NextGen

• Sponsor: Doug Farrow (AFS-230)

• Detailed recommendations from which the FAA can 

establish rules and guidance for training and checking 

pilots and dispatchers operating in the NextGen NAS. 

• Strategic recommendations to the FAA for integrating this 

new guidance into existing guidance as well as into 

operator training programs. 

FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 FY 17

$ 1,075 $ 1,000 $ 1,000 TBD TBD

8

Execution of the Requirement

• Performer(s)

 NASA-Ames

 Design Research (grant in process)

• Start Date: Research ongoing from FY 11

• Current status: Green

Note: Funding for outyears (FY14+) is for planning purposes only.
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Procedures, Tasks, Skills and Training for 

NextGen Air Carrier Pilots and Dispatchers

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Examine alerting issues philosophies related to 

the representative set of non-normal situations 

for two aircraft types

 

Conduct analysis of proposed internal and 

external non-normal checklist content and 

design factors with respect to NextGen nonnormal situation demands

 

Conduct review of NextGen literature and 

research studies that speak to changed 

competencies for pilots and dispatchers 

required to operate in the NextGen

environment

 

Conduct full instructional requirements analysis 

of all relevant job tasks for pilots and 

dispatchers, to include individual, crew and 

team tasks

 

Develop recommended training and checking 

requirements for flight crew in NextGen  
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Procedures, Tasks, Skills and Training 

for NextGen Air Carrier Pilots and Dispatchers

10

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Review scientific, technical, and regulatory 

literature on procedures and procedure 

development; conduct data analyses

 

Produce general systems approach for 

developing procedures 

Develop approaches for data collection, 

analysis, reporting, and evaluation related to 

procedure design



Develop methods for training and 

implementing procedures, and for assessing 

the training and implementation of these 

procedures



Procedures
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Flight deck systems: flightcrew interfaces, 

installation, integration and operations

FY 2013 Accomplishment/Issues

Research Requirement

Out Year Funding Requirements

• Existing policy does not address proliferation of new 

functions, equipment, and procedures required to 

implement NextGen (e.g., EVS/SVS, ADS-B, TCAS 

integrated with ADS-B, EFB, surface movement 

technologies, low visibility operations) 

• Common HF issues include system integration, 

interdependence, and interconnectedness; risk/error 

management; usability; color; symbology; displays; 

controls; workload; and attention management

• Sponsors: Cathy Swider (AIR-120), Loran Haworth 

(ANM-111), Terry Stubblefield/King (AFS-410), Wes 

Ryan & Lowell Foster (ACE-114)

• Draft report addressing human factors issues associated 

with temporary securing solutions for portable electronic 

devices

• Symbol study to identify key stereotypes for charts for 

low visibility operations

• Report documenting human factors issues associated 

with use of EFBs and PEDs in NextGen based on ASIAS 

data

FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 FY 17

$ 4,682 $ 2,800 $ 2,800 TBD TBD

11

Execution of the Requirement

• Performer(s)

 Honeywell

 MITRE

 NASA-Ames

 US DOT Volpe Center

• Start Date: Research ongoing from FY XX

• Current status: Green

Note: Funding for outyears (FY14+) is for planning purposes only.
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Flight Deck Systems: Flightcrew Interfaces, 

Installation, Integration and Operations

12

Airport Surface Moving Maps, ADS-B/CDTI, EFBs for NextGen

FY2012 FY2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Develop Frequently Asked Questions 

(FAQs) for approval and authorization of 

EFBs in NextGen

 

Develop survey for airline operators to 

gather information regarding EFBs and 

portable technologies

 

Identify human factors issues associated 

with temporary securing solutions  

Develop human factors criteria for 

authorization of taxi charts on portable 

electronic devices

 

Human-in-loop studies and data analysis 

that evaluate integration of ADS-B/CDTI 

alerting and traffic situation awareness 

for airborne/ground



Perform gap analysis of current guidance 

and draft research plan for operational 

issues related to advanced control 

systems


Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: Flight Deck Systems: Flightcrew Interfaces, 

Installation, Integration and Operations

13

Low visibility operations

FY2012 FY2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Examine display locations for 

presentation of EVS/SVS  

Identify best practices for design of 

LVO/SMGCS charts for paper and 

electronic presentation

  

Develop symbol recommendations for 

use on LVO/SMGCS charts   

Evaluate low visibility procedures for 

approach, landing, and takeoff  

Develop methods for operational issues 

and identification of HF performance 

issues

 
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: DataComm Human Factors R&D

FY 2013 Accomplishment/Issues

Research Requirement

Out Year Funding Requirements

• Conduct R&D to identify and mitigate human factors to 

enable DataComm implementation. Provide technical 

data to address avionics safety and usability, and 

support international coordination and enhancement of 

the CPDLC message set.

• R&D efforts address flight crew procedures and 

performance, levels of automation, avionics 

requirements, message set, and air/ground aspects.

• Provide technical data supporting AVS updates to 

regulatory guidance for certification of datacomm 

avionics, and operational approval of procedures and 

training.

• Sponsors: Matt Wade, Christophe Hamel (AIR-130)

• Recommendation for message set revisions for 

ICAO Operational Datalink Panel (OPLINK-P)

• Recommendations to address human factors 

aspects of flightcrew procedures and avionics 

capabilities that could limit DataComm 

implementation and NextGen operations

• Recommendations for minimum requirements for 

new and modified flight deck avionics to support 

data communications and NextGen operations 

such as 4D trajectories

FY 13 FY 14 FY 15 FY 16 FY 17

$ 250 $ 800 $ 1,100 TBD TBD

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Note: Funding for outyears (FY14+) is for planning purposes only.

Execution of the Requirement

• Performer(s)

 Honeywell

 MITRE

 NASA-Ames

 US DOT Volpe Center

 George Mason University

 Wright State University

• Start Date: Research ongoing from FY 09

• Current status: Green
Federal Aviation

Administration

NextGen: DataComm Human Factors R&D

FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016

Human factors support for DataComm

standards and international harmonization    

Reqts for Alternative Displays and Controls for 

Datacomm 

Integrated air/ground research to identify and 

address NextGen applications using 

DataComm: Interval Management, Dynamic 

RNP, and winds data.

 

DataComm in single pilot and low visibility 

operations 

Operating limitations and standard operating 

procedures for DataComm  

DataComm integration with flight deck avionics 

