| Human Factors Engineering governs civil aircraft flight | | | | In the design of most equipment, physical size, body |
| deck design. Human Factors Training assumes the | | | | measurements and movement are important to |
| operation of future aviation systems will continue to | | | | consider at an early stage. There are significant |
| rely on humans in the system for effective, efficient, | | | | differences between individuals. Design decisions are |
| and safe operation. Pilots, mechanics, air traffic | | | | governed by anthropometry and biomechanics. |
| control personnel, designers and many others are the | | | | Human fuel requirements, food, water, and oxygen, |
| basis for successful operations now and for the | | | | can affect performance and well-being. This is |
| foreseeable future. There is ample evidence that | | | | physiology and biology. Human input gathering, |
| failing to adequately consider humans in the design | | | | perception and touch, information processing, short- |
| and operations of these systems is unsafe. | | | | and long-term memory, cognitive ability and |
| This becomes more important still with the continuing | | | | decision-making are all subject to human error. |
| advance of technology. Technology advances have | | | | Output, speech characteristics for the design of |
| provided a basis for past improvements in operations | | | | voice communication systems, environmental |
| and safety and will continue to do so in the future. | | | | conditions such as temperature, pressure, noise, |
| New systems for terrain and traffic avoidance, data | | | | humidity, time of day, light, and darkness affect |
| link communication systems and new navigation | | | | performance. A boring or stressful environment will |
| systems based on Required Navigation Performance | | | | alter human output. |
| are just a few of the new technologies being | | | | Hardware, software, environment and other humans. |
| introduced onto flight decks. | | | | The first of the components that requires matching |
| Often, such new technology is developed and | | | | to the characteristics of the human is Hardware. This |
| introduced to address known problems or to provide | | | | interface is the one thought of first when considering |
| some operational benefit. While introduction of new | | | | man-machine systems. An example is designing seats |
| technology may solve some problems, it often | | | | to fit how a human sits. More complex is the design |
| introduces others. This has been true, for example, | | | | of displays to match how a human processes |
| with the introduction of advanced automation. New | | | | information. Controls, too, must be designed to |
| technology can be a solution, but will bring issues with | | | | human range of movement. The user is often |
| respect to the human operator. | | | | unaware of mismatches in the hardware interface. |
| Aviation Human Factors Training avoids vulnerability in | | | | Human and Software interface encompasses |
| the introduction of new technology. | | | | procedures, symbology and computer programs. The |
| Human factors training and human limitations. | | | | third interface is man and the environment, pilots |
| Several topics are fundamental to the application of | | | | fitted with helmets against the noise, goggles against |
| Human Factors Engineering (HFE) in the design of | | | | the airstream, and oxygen masks against the altitude, |
| flight decks. Training will allow us to live with our | | | | disturbed biological rhythms and related sleep |
| limitations. | | | | disturbances because of the increased economic |
| Human Factors is an area that is quite broad and its | | | | need to keep aircraft flying 24 hours a day. The |
| application to equipment design (among other areas), | | | | growth in air traffic, operations are other aspects of |
| broader still. | | | | the environment are becoming increasingly significant |
| Human Factors and its engineering aspects involve | | | | now and in the future. |
| the application of knowledge about human capabilities | | | | The fourth major interface is the human to human |
| and limitations to the design of technological systems. | | | | interface. Traditionally, questions of performance in |
| Human Factors Engineering also applies to training, | | | | flight have focused on individual performance. |
| personnel selection, procedures, and more topics. | | | | Increasingly, attention is being paid to the |
| Human capabilities and limitations can be categorised | | | | performance of the team or group. Pilots fly as a |
| in many ways. | | | | crew; flight attendants work as a team; maintainers, |
| A human is subject to many limitations, which are | | | | dispatchers, and others operate as groups; therefore, |
| predictable, although not always clearly defined | | | | group dynamics and influences are important to |
| around the edges. | | | | consider in design. |