Flight Operations Research Centre of Excellence Dr. Hazel Courteney Head of Research & Strategic Analysis

THE NEED FOR RESEARCH Majority of accidents and incidents have human factors cited as a contributory factor CAA Research Management identified a need for research into many areas of Flight Operations but facility was lacking

Why Cranfield? Various establishments considered The only UK University Department specialising in Aviation Psychology Broad experience in Safety and Risk Industries Wide experience in aviation research (Human Factors, Safety & Survival, Selection & Assessment, Training) Links to industry (Boeing, NLR, Airbus, Smiths, BA, NATS) Cranfield demonstrated a strong understanding of the problem of human error associated with flight operations. Flexible response to CAA proposals – practical output!

AIMS OF FORCE To promote insight and understanding of current and emergent issues relating to operational rules, flight training, interfaces with air traffic management, procedure designs, situation awareness aspects, human factors, and automation issues.

FUNDING Current: – CAA, Cranfield, and EPSRC – GAPAN Future areas of interest: – Aircraft/simulator manufacturers – EASA / NASA / FAA – Other sponsors?

STAFF Director: Simon Wood – Test pilot, Simulation, Capt. A340 Virgin Atlantic, MSc Human Factors & Safety Assessment in Aeronautics Research officer: Airline pilot Consultants: HF specialist, airline pilots PhD Student: Registration Research assistant: TBA

CHECKLISTS CONCLUSIONS – Problems occur 1% of time checklist used – Predominantly turbo-prop & small manufacturers – Not only design problems but also Company Philosophy, Policy & Procedures for use IMPLEMENTATION – CAA Flight Operations Inspectors Working Group formed to review process for assisting operators to produce better procedures and checklists

RNP TERMINOLOGY More accurate means of navigation known as “Required Navigation Performance” Driven by new technology Proliferation of terms and definitions – some order is needed to avoid human error – Tool developed (web based database) – ICAO Support received at Sep 04 ICAO Ops Panel meeting ultimate inclusion in ICAO Standards And Recommended Practices (SARPS )

FLIGHT CREW RELIANCE ON AUTOMATION CONCLUSIONS – Inappropriate training for control of flight path using automation – Manual flying skills not defined nor researched – Training for response to failures could be improved – CRM: Behavioural, Physiological, Cognition? FUTURE – Research study with easyJet/CTC Aviation 2005 to investigate improved methods of training for use of automation (Boeing) – MSc project to review measurement of pilot performance – Research study 2005-> into retention of manual flying skills in automated aircraft

'Pilotless' jumbo seconds from disaster

FUTURE WORK Pilot training for automated flight deck – Learning behaviours for automation – Longitudinal study for retention of manual flying skills – Effectiveness of Cockpit Resource Management training ‘Go-around’ from approach to land – Investigation of influencing factors Navigation procedure design – Integration of different technologies and aviation domains (ATC, pilots, airspace management) Operational Checklist Development – Ensure aircraft is configured for next Operational phase – E.g. RVSM and MNPS airspace using CPLDC, each of which requires compliance procedures; use of ACARS