Understanding the Human Component of Area Navigation Procedures Across the National Airspace System

The FAA intends to considerably increase the usage of area navigation (RNAV) approach and departure procedures in order to achieve the proposed NextGen goals for improved efficiency and capacity. RNAV procedures enable aircraft to have better access and flexibility for point-to-point operations. In an effort to better understand the potential impact of increased RNAV usage, a human factors safety assessment was conducted to identify the key human factors issues present in current RNAV operations. An analysis of 100 RNAV narrative-based safety reports from the Air Traffic Safety Action Program (ATSAP) and 68 narrative-based safety reports from the Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) was conducted to identify key causal factors. The analysis found several key causal factors related to RNAV procedure design, controller-pilot communication, automation systems, and track deviations. Specific human performance concerns and mitigation strategies for each causal factor were developed. These results should drive future requirements associated with the implementation of future RNAV procedures.