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Studying the cognitive properties of airplane flight decks  
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Aviation Research Projects

I have been studying aviation safety, with an emphasis on the role of autoflight systems in commercial airline flight decks, since 1989.  In that 19 year period, I have conducted research projects jointly with four major airlines in the US and with five airlines overseas. I have also consulted for Airbus Industrie and performed contract research for Boeing.  My aviation related research was funded by NASA’s Aviation Automation Safety program from 1989 – 2001.  Since 2001 my aviation safety research has been funded by Boeing. Along the way I have designed flight deck instruments, composed flight deck procedures and authored training software.  I have also made extensive field studies of flight operations. 

Early in 2008 I was elected to the Flight Safety Foundation's Icarus Committee.

 

     
Non-US Flight
Operations

Boeing: 2005 -

The Role of Culture
in Flight Deck
Operations

Boeing: 2001

Pilot Expertise
in the Airbus A320

NASA: 1999 - 2001
Acquiring
Automation Skills

NASA: 1998 - 1999
 
     
Autoflight use
with Datalink ATC

NASA: 1997 - 1998
  Field Analysis of
ATM Automation

NASA: 1993 - 1996
  Distributed Cognition
in Aviation

NASA: 1989 - 1995
  Light Jet Training
Exploratory stage