Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Integration of Human Factors in the NextGen Air Transportation System Lifecycle Acquisition Management System

Ashley Reives (TASC) , Edmundo Sierra (FAA)

April 3, 2014

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Federal Aviation Administration and NextGen• The FAA’s implementation of the Next Generation

Air Transportation System (NexGen) is a crucial component of the increased capacity and efficiency the National Airspace (NAS)

• The Implementation of NextGen requires the applications of many programs and technologies from diverse engineering disciplines and specialties

• These NextGen “enablers” aid NextGen in meeting its strategic capabilities

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

What is NextGen?• NextGen encompasses the ongoing

transformations within the NAS and the evolution to a satellite-based system of air traffic management

• The current air traffic management technology has been in use since the World War II era, and does not optimize the allocation of resources and airspace

• Incorporates the implementation of technologies, procedures and standards with the goals of:

• Increasing the safety of the NAS• Decreasing delays and fuel usage• Efficiently directing air traffic

More information on NextGen can be found at: http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The NAS as a Systems of Systems • The NAS is a diverse and complex system and

incorporates the applications of many programs and technologies

• The diversity of the components in the NAS requires a multi disciplinary approach to realize success

• The FAA utilizes systems engineering principles to execute projects that have been identified as essential to the advancement of the NAS in order to effectively assess the complexity of the project’s lifecycle

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Acquisition Management System in the FAA

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

HF Integration and the Human Factors Acquisition Working Group (HFAWG)• Human Factors is…

• The scientific discipline concerned with the understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system, and the profession that applies theory, principles, data, and other methods to design in order to optimize human well-being and overall system performance. (Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, HFES)

• In the FAA, the Human Factors Research and Engineering Division (ANG-C1) is delegated to manage, direct, and coordinate the agency’s human factors research and engineering program

• ANG-C1 authorized the formation of the Human Factors Acquisition Working Group (HFAWG) to promote the utilization of human factors principles and resources

• The HFAWG is a cross-organizational body of HF stakeholders who support the practical application of human factors in the AMS

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Issue and Research Need• Human Factors practitioners in the FAA—including

members of the HFAWG—often convey the difficulties in increasing and enforcing program utilization of HF guidance and policy in the AMS lifecycle

• Programs often are unaware of the support available, and commonly do not seek HF practitioner input until late in the AMS lifecycle

• The HFAWG seeks to directly interface with programs to promote HF usage and identify areas for improved HF input in the AMS lifecycle

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Methods• HFAWG kick-off meeting held in September 2013

• Participants—all HF Subject Matter Experts(SMEs) were provided with an overview of the role of human factors in lifecycle acquisition management and decision points

• The overview was followed by an analysis session to identify where changes to acquisition management policy, guidance, processes, procedures, or tools will improve the delivery of human factors services or provide new services of value to the FAA

• The session and survey were used to assess SME judgment on HF usage within the AMS and stimulate discussion

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Survey Structure• Questions 1-2

Participant background• Questions 3-4

Effectiveness of the program-level overview• Questions 5-6

Resources to provide to external sources for a similar overview

• Questions 7-8Ranking questions on HF guidance available by phase of the

AMS lifecycle• Questions 9-12

Open ended questions focused on the usage of HF guidance by individual programs in the FAA

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Discussion• Many Programs do not know guidance is available or where

to seek guidance• The HFAWG is seeking to interface with programs early in the

acquisition lifecycle and streamline documentation of resources• Increasing the accessibility of HF guidance and ease of usage

will improve the usage by program managers and document owners

• Available guidance is not representative of all stages in the acquisition lifecycle

• The HFAWG and HF community is looking to identify areas where increased HF will provide the greatest benefits to program development

• In some phases, the greatest benefit may not be received by developing guidance for phases with the least existing documentation

Disclaimer: The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Summary• The integration of HF in NextGen will require a

comprehensive systems approach to integrating available research and guidance materials

• The HFAWG continues to provide a forum for the technical exchange and development of HF solutions and guidance for implementation in the AMS lifecycle. The HFAWG is interfacing with stakeholders at the program and policy levels to identify HF needs

• Program management and HF Specialists must collaborate to develop beneficial materials and support programs throughout all phases of the AMS lifecycle

Questions?

17