Despite the strong safety record of the national airspace system, serious disruptions occasionally occur, often as a result of outdated or failed equipment. Under these circumstances, safety relies on the skills of the controllers and pilots and on reducing the number of aircraft in the air. The current and growing pressures to increase the capacity to handle a greater number of flights has led to a call for faster and more powerful equipment and for equipment that can take over some of the tasks now being performed by humans. Increasing the role of automation in air traffic control may provide a more efficient system, but will human controllers be able to effectively take over when problems occur? This comprehensive volume provides a baseline of knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of humans relative to the variety of functions performed in air traffic control. It focuses on balancing safety with the expeditious flow of air traffic, identifying lessons from past air accidents. The book discusses: The function of the national airspace system and the procedures for hiring, training, and evaluating controllers. Decisionmaking, memory, alertness, vigilance, sleep patterns during shift work, communication, and other factors in controllers' performance. Research on automation and human factors in air traffic control and incorporation of findings into the system. The Federal Aviation Administration's management of the air traffic control system and its dual mandate to promote safety and the development of air commerce. This book also offers recommendations for evaluation the human role in automated air traffic control systems and for managing the introduction of automation into current facilities and operations. It will be of interest to anyone concerned about air safety?policymakers, regulators, air traffic managers and controllers, airline officials, and passenger advocates. Table of Contents FRONT MATTER EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 OVERVIEW 2 TASKS IN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 3 PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT, SELECTION, AND TRAINING 4 AIRWAY FACILITIES 5 COGNITIVE TASK ANALYSIS OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL 6 WORKLOAD AND VIGILANCE 7 TEAMWORK AND COMMUNICATIONS 8 SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT 9 HUMAN FACTORS IN AIRWAYS FACILITIES 10 STRATEGIES FOR RESEARCH 11 HUMAN FACTORS AND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT 12 AUTOMATION REFERENCES Appendix A Aviation and Related Acronyms Appendix B Contributors to the Report Appendix C Biographical Sketches INDEX

Despite the strong safety record of the national airspace system, serious disruptions occasionally occur, often as a result of outdated or failed equipment. Under these circumstances, safety relies on the skills of the controllers and pilots and on reducing the number of aircraft in the air. The current and growing pressures to increase the capacity to handle a greater number of flights has led to a call for faster and more powerful equipment and for equipment that can take over some of the tasks now being performed by humans. Increasing the role of automation in air traffic control may provide a more efficient system, but will human controllers be able to effectively take over when problems occur? This comprehensive volume provides a baseline of knowledge about the capabilities and limitations of humans relative to the variety of functions performed in air traffic control. It focuses on balancing safety with the expeditious flow of air traffic, identifying lessons from past air accidents. The book discusses * The function of the national airspace system and the procedures for hiring, training, and evaluating controllers. * Decisionmaking, memory, alertness, vigilance, sleep patterns during shift work, communication, and other factors in controllers' performance. * Research on automation and human factors in air traffic control and incorporation of findings into the system. * The Federal Aviation Administration's management of the air traffic control system and its dual mandate to promote safety and the development of air commerce. This book also offers recommendations for evaluation the human role in automated air traffic control systems and for managing the introduction of automation into current facilities and operations. It will be of interest to anyone concerned about air safety--policymakers, regulators, air traffic managers and controllers, airline officials, and passenger advocates.

Automation in air traffic control may increase efficiency, but it also raises questions about adequate human control over automated systems. Following on the panel's first volume on air traffic control automation, Flight to the Future (NRC, 1997), this book focuses on the interaction of pilots and air traffic controllers, with a growing network of automated functions in the airspace system. The panel offers recommendations for development of human-centered automation, addressing key areas such as providing levels of automation that are appropriate to levels of risk, examining procedures for recovery from emergencies, free flight versus ground-based authority, and more. The book explores ways in which technology can build on human strengths and compensate for human vulnerabilities, minimizing both mistrust of automation and complacency about its abilities. The panel presents an overview of emerging technologies and trends toward automation within the national airspace system?in areas such as global positioning and other aspects of surveillance, flight information provided to pilots an controllers, collision avoidance, strategic long-term planning, and systems for training and maintenance. The book examines how to achieve better integration of research and development, including the importance of user involvement in air traffic control. It also discusses how to harmonize the wide range of functions in the national airspace system, with a detailed review of the free flight initiative. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary Part I: Automation Issues and Emerging Technologies 1 Automation Issues in Air Traffic Management 2 Emerging Technological Resources Part II: Current and Envisioned Automation of Air Traffic Control Tasks 3 Surveillance and Communication 4 Flight Information 5 Immediate Conflict Avoidance 6 Strategic Long-Range Planning 7 Support Functions Part III: Integration 8 Integration of Research and Development 9 Airspace System Integration: The Concept of Free Flight 10 Conclusions and Recommendations References Appendixes Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Index Color Plates

Mirroring a worldwide phenomenon in industrialized nations, the U.S. is experiencing a change in its demographic structure known as population aging. Concern about the aging population tends to focus on the adequacy of Medicare and Social Security, retirement of older Americans, and the need to identify policies, programs, and strategies that address the health and safety needs of older workers. Older workers differ from their younger counterparts in a variety of physical, psychological, and social factors. Evaluating the extent, causes, and effects of these factors and improving the research and data systems necessary to address the health and safety needs of older workers may significantly impact both their ability to remain in the workforce and their well being in retirement. Health and Safety Needs of Older Workers provides an image of what is currently known about the health and safety needs of older workers and the research needed to encourage social polices that guarantee older workers a meaningful share of the nation's work opportunities. Table of Contents Front Matter Executive Summary 1 Introduction 2 Demographic Characteristics of the Older Workforce 3 The Role of the Changing Labor Market and the Changing Nature of Work in Older Workers' Work Experiences and Health Outcomes 4 The Social and Economic Context of Work for Older Persons 5 Physical and Cognitive Differences Between Older and Younger Workers 6 Effects of Workplace Exposures on Older Workers 7 Programs and Policies Related to the Older Workforce and Safe Work 8 Interventions for Older Workers 9 Conclusions and Recommendations References Appendix A Epidemiological and Demographic Tables Appendix B Estimated Survival Functions for Men and Women Appendix C Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff Index

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-recognizing that information and insights gained through continual examination of practices for organizational assessment are useful for decision makers at organizations across the deferral, industrial, academic, and national laboratory sectors-recently requested that the National Research Council (NRC) organize a panel to review best practices in assessment of research and development (R&D) organizations. In response, the NRC established the Panel for Review of Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations. The panel was charged to consider means of assessing the following in a manner that satisfies the requirements of NIST to perform effective assessments but also identifies assessment methods that can be applied selectively to other R&D organizations. These methods include: technical merit and quality of the science and engineering work, the adequacy of the resources available to support high-quality work, the effectiveness of the agency's delivery of the services and products required to fulfill its goals, the degree to which the agency's current and planned R&D portfolio supports its mission, as well as the agency's flexibility to respond to changing economic, political, social and technological contexts. As one means of data gathering, among others that the panel is performing toward development of a final report of its findings, the panel organized a planning committee for a workshop on best practices in assessment of R&D organizations. Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations: Summary of a Workshop reviews the workshop conducted at the Keck Center of the National Academies in Washington, D.C., on March 19, 2012. Table of Contents Front Matter 1 Introduction 2 Summary of Presentations 3 Key Questions Identified by Discussion Groups Appendix A Agenda for the Workshop Appendix B List of Registered Workshop Attendees Appendix C Biographical Sketches of the Members of the Planning Committee and Panel for Review of Best Practices in Assessment of Research and Development Organizations Appendix D Biographical Sketches of Workshop Presenters