Volpe Center: Volpe Center Highlights

Information Resources

Volpe Center Highlights - January/February 2004

Safety

Considering Human Factors in the Design of Electronic Flight Bags (FAA)

Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) are small, information-management devices designed to help pilots and aircraft operators conduct flights more efficiently and safely. Originally seen as simple repositories for electronic documents such as checklists, operating manuals, and navigation publications, EFBs are now seen as multifunctional devices that can support an array of applications, including cabin surveillance, surface moving maps, electronic messaging, and display of live weather. Currently, laptop-style EFBs are used during operations at many airlines both in the United States and in Europe; they are often used to calculate flight performance and/or view airline documents.

Photo of a pilot using a tablet computer.

The accelerated development and proliferation of EFBs in the past few years make human factors research critical. To ensure the safe use of EFBs by flight crews, human factors considerations must be addressed during design and evaluation. Above, a pilot uses a tablet computer. (Photo courtesy of Teledyne Controls.)

Although EFBs hold great promise, government regulators, potential customers, and industry developers all agree that they raise many human factors considerations that must be handled appropriately to avoid adverse effects. For example, without careful design EFBs could increase workload and head-down time, and distract the flight crew from higher priority tasks. To understand and assess the full impact of an EFB, designers and evaluators must understand how the device will function and be used by crews, how the device will interact with other flight deck equipment, and how training and operating procedures will be affected.

The Volpe Center supports the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Human Factors Research and Engineering Division by identifying and prioritizing human factors considerations in the design and use of EFBs.

The FAA first asked Volpe to support development of an EFB Advisory Circular in 1998. Volpe's initial effort resulted in a comprehensive document, released in September 2000, titled "Human Factors Considerations in the Design and Evaluation of Electronic Flight Bags Version 1: Basic Functions." This document, which was developed in coordination with the Air Transport Association Digital Display Working Group, was used as a source of information for the FAA Advisory Circular for EFBs (AC 120- 76A). The Advisory Circular covers issues related to the installation of an EFB system in the aircraft and its use by the flight crew.

In fall 2003, the Volpe Center published a final report, Human Factors Considerations in the Design and Evaluation of Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) Version 2. Like the earlier report, Version 2 contains information for FAA evaluators, system designers/manufacturers, and operators about the many EFB human factors considerations that need to be addressed during design and evaluation. Industry comments on Version 1 were incorporated into this release; as a result, the guidance in Version 2 is more comprehensive and detailed throughout. The new document also contains information on electronic charts, the rapidly growing EFB industry, and a summary of equipment requirements and recommendations for quick reference.

The report was authored by Dr. Divya C. Chandra and Dr. Michelle Yeh of Volpe's Operator Performance and Safety Analysis Division, Dr. Victor Riley of User Interaction Research and Design (a Volpe Center contractor), and Ms. Susan J. Mangold of Battelle Memorial Institute (a Volpe Center contractor). The report and further information on the project are available at http://www.volpe.dot.gov/opsad/efb.

Using the Version 2 document as a foundation, the Volpe Center is developing evaluation tools and procedures for use by inspectors who evaluate EFBs in the field.

Developing Data-Driven State Safety Plans (FMCSA)

The primary mission of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Accordingly, FMCSA is focused on conducting datadriven analysis to help identify effective programs that improve motor carrier safety. Recently, a Volpe Center team developed and delivered data-analysis training to all FMCSA Division Administrators to aid in the development of annual safety plans.

The Volpe Center supports FMCSA in carrying out its safety mandate by providing safety analysis expertise and innovative information resources.

The FMCSA now requires that all Division Administrators develop annual state-level safety plans for their states using existing resources. In support of this new requirement, the Volpe team developed a four-step approach to creating an effective safety plan, which was included as part of the training. The approach includes: (1) clearly identifying the state's safety goals, (2) identifying and quantifying safety issues in the state by using existing information and resources, (3) identifying state countermeasures and safety programs that could lead to safety improvements, and (4) establishing effective measures to monitor results. The team utilized Analysis & Information (A&I) Online - a Web-based tool designed by Volpe for FMCSA - to provide quick and efficient access to descriptive statistics and analyses of commercial vehicle operator safety information. The Web site (http://ai.volpe.dot.gov/mcspa.asp) is a valuable resource for FMCSA in promoting motor carrier safety.

The Volpe team provided hands-on training for Division Administrators in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Division Administrators learned to conduct data analysis using existing information resources (such as A&I Online) and to develop effective State Motor Carrier Safety Plans. The success of the training has led to plans for training in the spring of 2004 for the FMCSA State Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program coordinators responsible for developing annual Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans.

Mr. Donald Wright and Ms. Nancy Kennedy of the Motor Carrier Safety Assessment Division led the Volpe team. Team members included Ms. Candace Brown, Ms. Julie Nixon, and Ms. Cyndy Shaffer, also of the Division; Ms. Dana Larkin of the Planning and Policy Analysis Division; Messrs. Dennis Piccolo, Kevin Berry, Arturo Torres, and Walt Zak of EG&G Technical Services (a Volpe Center on-site contractor); and Ms. Anusha Seetharaman of Cambridge Systematics (a Volpe Center on-site contractor).

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