Human factors of unmanned aircraft system integration in the national airspace system

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to identify human factors challenges to integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs) in the National Airspace System (NAS), for both pilots and air traffic controllers. The method for identifying these challenges was primarily based on the differences or “gaps” between manned aircraft in the NAS today and the unique aspects of UASs. The goal is not to generate a comprehensive list of human factors issues, but to focus on those that are traceable to fundamental characteristics of UASs (primarily due to the UAS pilot being physically remote from the aircraft) and that are also considered challenging with respect to the current NAS and its regulatory framework.