Fcsr IDIQ task order: task order title: human factors issues & operational experiences in merging & spacing for nextgen operations 1.0 background: the federal aviation administrations (FAA) planned…

Fcsr IDIQ task order: task order title: human factors issues & operational experiences in merging & spacing for nextgen operations 1.0 background: the federal aviation administrations (FAA) planned next generation air transportation system (nextgen) will reduce aircraft separation and implement a shift towards flight deck separation assurance responsibilities. These changes will, in turn, significantly alter existing collision avoidance and separation assurance roles, responsibilities, displays and alerts. New methods of separation assurance require delegation or sharing of separation assurance functions between the air navigation service provider (ansp) and the flight deck for certain portions of a flight segment and/or for specific aircraft. Additionally, collision avoidance algorithms may require some alteration or consideration of intent information in order to match collision avoidance alerting criteria with reduced separation standards. The FAA's experience from recent implementation of advanced procedures like standard instrument departure (SID) and standard terminal arrival route (star) suggests that intended benefits provided by new procedures may be negated by human factors issues such as frequent pilot errors in matching of procedures to runways and pilot challenges responding to air traffic control directions. Achieving intended levels of reduced separation requires research that identifies relevant human performance parameters, information needs, human error potential and methods for validating operational procedures. While limited merging and spacing operations are currently conducted in the US national airspace system (e.g., united parcel service operations at louisville, KY), additional research is required to investigate human factors issues that may arise when extending these operations to multiple aircraft operators and types. 2.0 scope / objectives: the scope of this effort is to conduct reviews, surveys, and workshops for establishing a basis for developing requirements for nextgen human factors collision avoidance and separation assurance systems for merging & spacing operations. Specific objectives include: establishing human capabilities and limitations that affect human error potential and impact. Developing information needs for displays, alerts and procedures. Evaluating supporting technologies and procedures. 3.0 description of task requirements: the contractor shall conduct reviews, surveys, and workshops that provide the basis for developing requirements for nextgen human factors collision avoidance and separation assurance systems for merging & spacing operations. The contractor shall perform the following tasks: 3.1 literature review: the contractor shall develop a comprehensive, macro-level review and summary of completed, ongoing, and /or planned human factors research relevant to merging and spacing operations that includes a description of new enabling technologies (including display formats and symbols) used to accomplish merging & spacing operations. The review and summary shall consider research conducted by federal agencies, universities, and private industry in both the US and foreign institutions. The contractor shall deliver a draft literature review report (deliverable 4.6) which includes a compilation of source documents used and a formal reference section in american psychological association (APA) citation format. The NASA technical monitor (TM) will provide written comments via email to the contractor within 10 business days. The contractor shall incorporate the NASA TM s comments and deliver a final literature review report which includes a compilation of source documents used and a formal reference section in APA citation format. (deliverable 4.7) 3.2 operations review & operator perspectives document: this task assesses industry and government best operational practices relevant to