Enhanced ground support: lessons from work on reduced crew operations

Abstract

From the 1950s through the 1980s, aircraft design was marked by an increase in reliability and automation, and, correspondingly, a decrease in the crew complement required to fly, resulting in the two-pilot operations seen today. However, while technological progress has continued, there have been no further reductions in crew complement, largely because the two pilots mitigate each other’s failures (both mistakes and incapacitation). We present a conceptual framework under which we believe a reduction in crew complement could be made while maintaining current levels of safety. Under this framework, much of the monitoring and verification would fall upon automation. Ground personnel performing an enhanced flight following role would aid the remaining pilot in assessment of any off-nominal event. Additionally, in particularly high-workload or risky situations, a ground pilot could step into the role of first officer. We then discuss four human-in-the-loop simulations conducted at NASA Ames Research Center that illustrate key aspects of this conceptual framework and informed key aspects of its development.