Annotated Bibliography (1990 – 2019): Knowledge, Skills, and Tests for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Air Carrier Operations

The integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS) requires a thorough understanding of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) needed for UAS operations. As UAS operations expand beyond Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 107, there is an increasing need for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to standardize pilot requirements, certification requirements, and testing and training requirements, particularly for air carrier and commercial operations. Part 107 does not address air carrier operations; and existing air carrier rules, found in 14 CFR Parts 121 and 135, were not written with UAS in mind. As it stands, there is a gap in our understanding of the minimum knowledge, skills, and testing needed for various UAS operations, which poses a challenge for FAA rulemaking. This annotated bibliography seeks to bridge this gap by documenting the knowledge, skill, and testing requirements for pilots of unmanned aircraft operations based on a review of the research literature. This annotated bibliography will support FAA rulemaking efforts by the FAA’s Flight Standard Service General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS800) for UAS operations over people, expanded operations, and non-segregated operations as well as efforts by the Air Transportation Division (AFS-200) for developing UAS air carrier regulatory requirements. Articles were collected from Google Scholar and FAA Technical Library databases. Eighty-eight articles were identified as relevant, including empirical studies, qualitative reviews, and regulation/guideline documents. This annotated bibliography is structured into four main sections: UAS Knowledge, UAS Skill, UAS Testing and Training, and UAS Operations. The documentation of KSAOs required of UAS pilots can inform FAA rulemaking by providing a foundation for the establishment of minimum pilot qualifications. Additionally, identifying minimum knowledge and skill requirements can inform UAS pilot training requirements. This research effort, in addition to other UAS research requirements (e.g., fatigue, crew and staffing), will support the FAA’s rulemaking efforts that promote the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the NAS.

• Record URL:
  https://www.faa.gov/data_research/research/med_humanfacs/oamtechreports/2020s/media/202114.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57233
• Corporate Authors:

  FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

  Cherokee Nation Support, Service, and Solutions
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73125

  FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

  6500 S MacArthur Boulevard
  Oklahoma City, OK  United States  73125

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aerospace Medicine, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Torrence, Brett
  • Nelson, Brittany
  • Thomas, Gray F
  • Nesmith, Blake L
  • Williams, Kevin W
• Publication Date: 2021-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 101p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Aircraft operations; Aviation safety; Bibliographies; Certification; Information, data, and knowledge; Literature reviews; Motor skills; Qualifications; Regulations; Testing; Training; Unmanned aircraft systems
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Education and Training; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01778627
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AM-21/14
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 3 2021 3:31PM