HF TEAM ATLANTIC CITY
The Human Factors Team – Atlantic City (HFTAC) employs scientific methods and advanced technology to conduct research and development activities to ensure that systems and procedures used by air traffic controllers and technical operations personnel perform effectively and safely. These activities support the Human Factors Research and Engineering Group’s programs in Air Traffic/Tech Ops Research and Human Factors Engineering. The Team is located in the Research, Development, and Human Factors Laboratory (RDHFL) at the William J. Hughes Technical Center. The Concepts and Systems Integration Team (CSIT) also located in the laboratory provides engineering, computer science, and laboratory support to the HFTAC Engineering Researcher Psychologists.
Within the RDHFL, we conduct research to develop methods of measuring human performance in the aviation environments (tower, terminal approach, en route, oceanic, traffic management, and flight service), to evaluate longer term operational concepts (i.e., the Next Generation Air Transportation System, or NextGen), and to develop useful databases and design standards. Together with the CSIT, we have developed high fidelity rapid prototyping and human-in-the-loop simulation capabilities coupled with specialized human operator and system performance measures. We also conduct research and development efforts in the other laboratories at the Technical Center; at operational facilities; and in collaboration with other Federal, industry, academic, and international organizations.
We use this information and methods to work with stakeholder groups to evaluate existing systems and to design nearer term developmental systems and procedures These ensure that the operators and maintainers can use systems safely and effectively to perform their critical jobs. The collocation and collaboration between the research and acquisition personnel and activities increases the relevance and quality of our products. The human-centered design processes are intended to make these frequently complex systems relatively easy to learn and use, increasing productivity and efficiency while minimizing the potential for error. Our focus is on designing systems and procedures for the National Airspace System that meet the needs of the operators and maintainers, and ultimately the FAA customers (pilots, airlines, commercial operations, and the traveling public) rather than on trying to select, train, and manage people that can use technology-centered systems.