Human factors

(a)

Aircraft certification process

(1)

Evaluation

Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator (acting through the Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety of the Administration) shall—(A)conduct an evaluation of the development of tools and methods to support the integration of human factors assessment and system safety assessments of human interaction with flight deck and flight control systems for transport airplanes into the aircraft certification process under section 44704 of title 49, United States Code; and(B)develop a framework to better integrate human factors throughout such aircraft certification process with the objective of improving safety by designing systems and training pilots in a manner that accounts for contemporary knowledge to reduce the possibility of an accident resulting in whole or in part from the pilot’s interaction with the aircraft.(2)

Report to Congress

Not later than 60 days after the completion of the evaluation required under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report detailing the findings of such report and a plan for implementation based on such findings of such report.(3)

Implementation

Upon submission of the report required under paragraph (2), the Administrator shall implement the findings of such evaluation.(b)

Human factors education program

(1)

In general

The Administrator shall develop a human factors education program that addresses the effects of modern flight deck systems, including automated systems, on human performance for transport airplanes and the approaches for better integration of human factors in aircraft design and certification.(2)

Target audience

The human factors education program shall be integrated into the training protocol in existence as of the date of the enactment of this Act such that such program is routinely administered to the following:(A)Appropriate employees within the Flight Standards Service.(B)Appropriate employees within the Aircraft Certification Service.(C)Other employees or authorized representatives determined to be necessary by the Administrator.(c)

Transport airplane manufacturer information sharing

The Administrator shall—(1)require each transport airplane manufacturer to provide the Administrator with the information or findings necessary for flight crew to be trained on flight deck systems;(2)ensure the information or findings under paragraph (1) adequately includes consideration of human factors; and(3)ensure that each transport airplane manufacturer identifies any technical basis, justification or rationale for the information and findings under paragraph (1).(d)

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

Administration

The term Administration means the Federal Aviation Administration.(2)

Administrator

The term Administrator means the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.(3)

Human factors

The term human factors means a multidisciplinary set of principles developed to holistically explain and predict pilot behavior in relation to the management of the operation of an aircraft, including the pilot’s management of aircraft systems and response to systems failures and non-normal conditions.(4)

Transport airplane

The term transport airplane means a transport-category airplane designed for operation by an air carrier or foreign air carrier type-certificated with a passenger seating capacity of 30 or more or an all-cargo derivative of such an airplane.(e)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.