The National Plan for Aviation Human Factors: Maintenance Research Issues

Abstract

The National Plan for Aviation Human Factors addresses Human Factors research associated with pilots, controllers, maintenance technicians, and their respective work environments. In each of the sections the plan addresses issues related to topics such as automation and advanced technology, basic scientific knowledge about human performance, information transfer, performance measurement, training and selection, and certification.

This paper describes the portions of the National Plan related to maintenance. It includes discussion of problems shared in the maintenance of aircraft and in the maintenance of the “electronic highways” called airway facilities. The paper describes the Plan's research recommendations. In addition the paper elaborates on the current Office of Aviation Medicine Human Factors in Aviation Maintenance research, associated with the National Aging Aircraft Research Program.

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