The purpose of this document is to identify and prioritize guidance on human factors issues to consider in the design and evaluation of flight deck displays and controls for all types of aircraft (Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 23, 25, 27, and 29), in the interest of improving aviation safety. 

The human factors/pilot interface issues have been seen across multiple FAA Aircraft Certification projects involving flight deck displays and controls, as well as some that are important but are often overlooked, and those for which FAA regulatory and guidance material has been routinely requested. These issues are grouped into ten “topic areas”, which directly correspond to the chapters.  Each chapter provides human factors regulatory and guidance material, as well as recommendations and best practices, from industry, academia, and government research organizations, related to each topic area.  There area also six appendices containing a variety of sample checklists, testing scenarios and procedures, key reference lists, and “gold star” human factors research reports which have proven to be useful to both the FAA and industry representatives who evaluate and approve flight deck displays and controls. 

While this general guidance document is intended to serve as a single comprehensive reference, it does not replace FAA regulatory and guidance material specific to the type of aircraft. Current FAA regulatory and guidance material takes precedence over the material here.

This document is available in the following formats/platforms:

• Interactive website
• PDF (entire document)
• Word (entire document)