Current themes of research are human computer interaction which involves the understanding and trust of automation and computer based training which involves strategies instructing many of the procedural aspects of flight and related areas such as air traffic control (ATC) communications. Other areas of research are preflight inspection, decision making, aircraft systems and weather. Research in aviation also includes situational awareness, crew resource management, decision making, pilot selection, and air traffic control. Some future research will focus on sensor technology which will allow more information to be displayed to pilots. Free flight will allow pilot's to fly their own route, without relying on air traffic control. Sensor technology will challenge aviation psychologist to manage the presentation of information so the pilot is not overloaded and important information is salient. This may be done with specialized highlighting of the important information.
The Federal Aviation Administration in connection with Ohio State University are working on areas of research including flight simulation and the understanding of the aeronautical decision making process from a cognitive, rather than personality, perspective.
Research at the National Institution for Aviation Research at Wichita University includes crashworthiness, dynamic seat certification, airframe design and analysis, composites material testing, aerodynamics design and testing, human factors, and aeroacoustics.
The Institute of Aviation at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign focuses on validating models of pilot performance. Included in their research is visual information processing and visual displays, spatial awareness, attention, workload and performance measurement, pilot judgment, individual differences and prediction, and crew coordination and communications.
Aerospace Crew Research Project Publication and Tech Report Lists and the International Journal of Aviation Psychology offer research articles and project publications.
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