Aviation Human Factors

The aircraft cockpit provided the genesis of the field of human factors.  During World War II, researchers concentrated on such diverse concerns as the effects of altitude on pilot performance, the design and operation of cockpit controls and displays, and training methods and methodologies.  Aviation continues to be a major focus area of the discipline, with concerns today being related to issues including automation, control complexity, information presentation and formatting, multitasking, crew coordination, and air traffic control.

Nearly 90% of all aircraft accidents are attributed to human error.  The Human Factors expert in the aviation environment works closely with other members of the aviation accident team (e.g., piloting experts, reconstructionists, materials scientists, etc.) to attempt to determine not only what happened that resulted in an accident, but also why it likely occurred. Detailed information regarding pilot behavior and capabilities, as well as knowledge of the effects of various factors in the aviation environment (both physical and psychological) is critical to this endeavor.