Assessment of Pilot Workload in Non-Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Aircraft during Simultaneous Parallel Approach Operations

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) minimum capabilities list (MCL) recommends operators equip with autopilot coupled vertical navigation (VNAV) to enable performance-based navigation (PBN) operations. FAA data indicated a gap in VNAV equipage across 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 aircraft operators. Current FAA requirements do not allow an aircraft without coupled autopilot (lateral navigation, vertical navigation) and/or flight director (FD) guidance (lateral, vertical) to conduct area navigation (RNAV) instrument approach procedures (IAPs) during simultaneous approach operations. The VNAV equipage gap and current FAA requirements limit the use of existing PBN procedures and overall participation rates. Human factors research data is needed to understand pilot workload when conducting RNAV IAPs in an aircraft without coupled autopilot and/or FD guidance during simultaneous approach operations. Results from this research can provide a basis for FAA safety risk management (SRM) decisions.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $540,000.00
• Sponsor Organizations:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Project Managers:

  Walls, Jason

• Performing Organizations:

  Federal Aviation Administration

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Principal Investigators:

  Fercho, Kelene

• Start Date: 20240603
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Approach control; Automatic pilot (Aircraft); Risk management; Workload
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01962185
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
• Files: RIP, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 29 2025 1:02PM