What is the impact of human factors engineering on aircraft and air traffic control systems?

1 Aircraft design

One of the main goals of HFE in aircraft design is to enhance the usability, safety, and performance of the cockpit and cabin. This involves considering aspects such as the layout, size, shape, color, and functionality of the controls, displays, and indicators; the ergonomics, comfort, and accessibility of the seats, windows, and doors; the communication, navigation, and automation systems; and the environmental conditions, such as noise, vibration, lighting, and temperature. HFE also aims to reduce the workload, fatigue, and stress of the pilots and crew, and to support their decision-making, situation awareness, and error recovery.

2 ATC systems

Another major application of HFE is in the design and operation of ATC systems, which are responsible for managing the flow of air traffic and ensuring the safety and efficiency of flights. HFE helps to optimize the interface, information, and interaction between the controllers and the aircraft, as well as between the controllers and their colleagues, supervisors, and other stakeholders. HFE also addresses issues such as the allocation of tasks, roles, and responsibilities; the training, evaluation, and feedback of the controllers; the coordination, cooperation, and conflict resolution among the ATC units; and the adaptation, resilience, and recovery of the ATC system in case of disruptions or emergencies.

3 HFE principles

When designing both aircraft and ATC systems, there are a few general principles of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) that should be taken into account. These principles include user-centered design, a system approach, iterative design, and risk management. User-centered design involves understanding the end-users' needs, expectations, preferences, and feedback, and testing the usability and acceptability of the system. A system approach views the system as a whole rather than as isolated components and considers the interactions and interdependencies among all elements (e.g., human, technical, organizational, and environmental factors). Iterative design follows a cyclical process of analysis, design, evaluation, and improvement while incorporating new data, knowledge, and technologies. Lastly, risk management involves identifying potential hazards, threats, and errors that may affect the system and implementing safety measures to prevent or reduce their occurrence and impact.

4 HFE challenges

Despite the benefits and advances of HFE in civil aviation, there are also some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. The aviation system is becoming increasingly complex due to the increasing number and diversity of aircraft, operators, airports, and airspace users, as well as the introduction of new technologies such as drones, satellites, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, the aviation system is subject to various sources of variability and uncertainty, such as the weather, traffic, demand, and human behavior. Moreover, there are often trade-offs between competing objectives such as safety, efficiency, productivity, and sustainability. Lastly, it can be difficult to evaluate the system due to the lack of standardized metrics, methods, and tools.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?