Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Jorge Gonzalez-Rivera, Senior Zoe Guyette, Seior Emma Hatten, Senior Katie Huynh, Senior Benjamin Marsh, Senior
Lead Presenter's Name
Jorge Ivan Gonzalez Rivera
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Aviation
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Ali Aljaroudi
Abstract
Automation complacency, a critical aviation hazard, is commonly seen amongst flight crews in high-automation commercial flight decks. This issue occurs when over-reliance on automated systems leads to a decline in manual flying expertise and situational awareness, posing a severe risk of loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and catastrophic accidents. To bridge the safety gap between current operational demands for efficiency and the regulatory requirement for pilot proficiency, this study proposes the Manual Flight Compliance and Monitoring System (MFCMS). This solution integrates engineering and administrative controls to reduce automation-related risks by mandating 15 minutes of manual flight per hour during cruise phases to preserve active monitoring and manual handling skills. The methodology involved a comprehensive literature review, preliminary hazard analysis (PHA), and a formal cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The MFCMS methodology is designed to identify significant safety gaps where existing policies prioritize operational efficiency over human factors. The formal preliminary hazard analysis evaluates the primary hazards and proposes controls that reduce the overall risk level. After control implementation, risk levels decreased from 20 to 4 (80%), the severity of the risk remained mostly unchanged, and the probability of all risks decreased to the unlikely value of 1. A formal cost-benefit analysis was conducted to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) for the MFCMS; the ROI yields a 99% return on safety, resulting in periodic change through accident prevention and loss of life, both of which exceed the cost of implementation, saving millions in simulated examples. Ultimately, the MFCMS is a critical investment in risk mitigation; its value is measured by the preservation of safety and operational integrity rather than short-term fiscal returns.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Aviation Safety and Security Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons
Human Factors Challenges in Automated Flight Operations
Automation complacency, a critical aviation hazard, is commonly seen amongst flight crews in high-automation commercial flight decks. This issue occurs when over-reliance on automated systems leads to a decline in manual flying expertise and situational awareness, posing a severe risk of loss of control in-flight (LOC-I) and catastrophic accidents. To bridge the safety gap between current operational demands for efficiency and the regulatory requirement for pilot proficiency, this study proposes the Manual Flight Compliance and Monitoring System (MFCMS). This solution integrates engineering and administrative controls to reduce automation-related risks by mandating 15 minutes of manual flight per hour during cruise phases to preserve active monitoring and manual handling skills. The methodology involved a comprehensive literature review, preliminary hazard analysis (PHA), and a formal cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The MFCMS methodology is designed to identify significant safety gaps where existing policies prioritize operational efficiency over human factors. The formal preliminary hazard analysis evaluates the primary hazards and proposes controls that reduce the overall risk level. After control implementation, risk levels decreased from 20 to 4 (80%), the severity of the risk remained mostly unchanged, and the probability of all risks decreased to the unlikely value of 1. A formal cost-benefit analysis was conducted to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) for the MFCMS; the ROI yields a 99% return on safety, resulting in periodic change through accident prevention and loss of life, both of which exceed the cost of implementation, saving millions in simulated examples. Ultimately, the MFCMS is a critical investment in risk mitigation; its value is measured by the preservation of safety and operational integrity rather than short-term fiscal returns.