Following these trends is of utmost importance. Completion of project to assess human factors components of incidents in air traffic control One of the problems surrounding implementation and validation of human factors programs in flight operations and air traffic control is the need for multiple criteria. Incidents provide one of the best potential sources of information on how the system functions. A methodology has been developed to identify critical human factors elements of loss of separation incidents in the air traffic system. Data collection has been in progress for more than a year and a database has been established that will allow multivariate analyses of the determinants of incidents.
Positive system responses to incidents as well as negative outcomes are being investigated.
During this period analyses will be completed and a report delivered to the FAA containing results and specific recommendations for system improvement. As a related effort, Bob Helmreich is serving on a National Research Council panel to evaluate the current status of ATC operations and to make recommendations for the introduction of new automation in the system. Individuals residing in cultures are imperfectly aware, if at all, of the implications and origins of their cultures. The data from this research should be useful to augment the Task Force report. A report on national culture will be completed during this period.