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Erin Flynn-Evans

Publications and source records attributed to Erin Flynn-Evans.

14 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2022

Assessing Several Non-Traditional Data Sources for Value in Aviation Safety

The NASA System-Wide Safety (SWS) project and its predecessor projects have been developing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms for commercial aviation safety for many years. These algorithms have been applied to Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA); radar track data (e.g., Threaded Track); and safety reports, including Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) and Aviation Safety Action Plan (ASAP). SWS is working with partners to get access to other data that air carriers provide, such as maintenance data, and has been assisting carriers in working with other data, such as Line Operations Safety Audit (LOSA) data, using manual methods. However, the project has discussed whether there are other data that are not traditionally used in aviation safety analysis that may be useful. This paper discusses four sets of data and models that are not traditionally used in aviation safety but that have shown promise for such use. In the future, we plan to incorporate such data into ML algorithms to use with data that we have used before and determine the additional benefit that is actually achieved under different contexts from the inclusion of these non-traditional data sources.

Nikunj C. Oza↗
NASA NTRS2021

NASA Ames Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory and AA FRMS - A Working Relationship

American Airlines and NASA Ames Research Center have a long-standing partnership to conduct human factors fatigue research in airline operations. Since 2016, using a mechanism known as a Space Act Agreement, NASA Ames’ Fatigue Countermeasures Laboratory has worked with the American’s Fatigue Risk Management team to gather sleep and alertness data from volunteer flight crew members. Operations studied include long-range transpacific flights, timing of inflight rest breaks during augmented flights, and rates of acclimation related to flights making theater changes. This mutually beneficial collaborative working arrangement allows American to conduct operations of specific interest under the FAA’s Alternative Means of Compliance process and provides NASA with a means to gather and analyze data that can be used to inform operational safety-related decisions. Earlier this year, results from the study of inflight rest breaks was published in the journal Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. A total of 500 American pilots responded to a survey with landing crew reporting more and better-quality sleep during break 2 than break 3. Subsequent ratings of sleepiness and alertness at TOD were significantly better for crew who used break 2. Findings from this study were reported to the FAA leading to an inflight fatigue mitigation capability for many pilots in the industry. An upcoming study is to evaluate workload and alertness levels during Caribbean Turn (DFW-SJO-DFW) operations. For this study, the FRMS team and NASA will ask volunteers to collect data on sleep, workload, performance, and alertness using scientifically valid methods The information gained in this study will help inform how workload and fatigue interact with duty duration during short-haul, daytime operations.

in-flight rest↗
NASA NTRS2021

Is the Last Inflight Rest Break Really the Best?

As pilots experienced in augmented long-haul flights know, current FAA regulations limit options for scheduling in-flight rest periods, such that on many long-haul operations the landing pilot needs to use the final bunk period, closest to top of descent (TOD). However, the logistics of a particular flight (e.g., timing of the flight, timing of passenger service) and the pilot’s own physiology may mean that the last rest break isn’t always the best. To study this, we conducted a large survey of pilots flying these operations. Pilots completed the survey after eligible flights and provided us with information on which rest break they used, how much sleep they received, factors that disrupted sleep and ratings on the quality of their sleep, and they also provided fatigue and alertness ratings at top-of-descent. Pilots from another US-based carrier were also surveyed, in collaboration with our research partners at Washington State University, to increase the sample size and gather insights between operations.

in-flight rest↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Examining Circadian Disadvantages in the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Playoffs

Introduction: Prior research on travel in the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) regular season has shown that teams journeying west relative to their home base face circadian disadvantages for evening games, while those traveling east have advantages. The current study extends previous research by examining these effects within the NBA playoffs. We hypothesized that teams would have a greater circadian advantage during eastward compared to westward travel. Methods: In 2013, the NBA implemented a 7-game series playoff structure, in which teams play an alternating home/away 2-2-1-1-1 format for the Finals. Data for all 499 postseason games played during the 2013-14 to 2018-2019 seasons were collected from Basketball-Reference and FiveThirtyEight. We investigated the impact of direction of travel based on home base city (same time zone, westward, eastward) and time zones traveled on actual game outcomes, Elo rating differences (i.e., a team quality metric based on wins and losses), Elo predicted win probability, and team scoring for visiting teams. Results: Teams had lower Elo predicted win probabilities following 3-hour westward than same time zone and all eastward travel, while 3-hour eastward travel related to higher probabilities of winning compared to same time zone and all westward travel (p < .02, d > .95). Teams travelling westward with 2-hour time changes lost significantly more games than those experiencing 1-hour westward (p = .04, OR = 2.45), 1-hour eastward (p = .05, OR = 2.34), and 3-hour eastward changes (p = .02, OR = 4.68). Scoring was significantly higher following eastward travel compared to both westward (p = .001, d = 0.60) and same time zone travel (p = .003, d = 0.44). There were no statistically clear differences in team quality based on overall direction of travel or number of time zones traveled, and game outcomes based on direction of travel (p > .05). Conclusion: Overall direction of travel was related to team scoring, while number of time zones traveled was associated with Elo predicted win probability and game outcomes. Generally, teams travelling eastward and within the same time zone gained an advantage over those travelling westward. Adjustment to travel and time zone changes appear to influence certain aspects of in-game performances and outcomes in the NBA playoffs.

circadian misalignment↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

How Do Humans Sleep in Space?

This presentation reviews what is known about how humans sleep in space. It covers historical studies that showed that humans only sleep ~6 hours a night in space and how circadian misalignment influences sleep and hypnotic use. It also covers more recent studies that show that environment and scheduling are responsible for much of the previously observed sleep disruption. The presentation also discusses how sleep architecture may be different in space compared to on Earth along with the possible reasons for observed differences.

sleep↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

The View From the Flight Deck: Pilot Perspectives on Fatigue in Short-Haul Operations

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies investigating the impact of fatigue in short-haul flight operations conducted under United States (US) Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 117 flight and duty limitations and rest requirements. In order to understand the fatigue factors unique to short-haul operations, we conducted a series of focus groups across four major commercial passenger airlines in the US. The outcomes of this study were intended to inform the scope of a larger study of fatigue in short-haul operations. METHODS: Ninety short-haul pilots were recruited through emails distributed by airline safety teams and labor representatives. Fourteen focus groups were conducted via an online conferencing platform in which participants were asked to identify, specific to short-haul: a) schedules and operations that lead to elevated fatigue; b) schedules and operations that are not fatiguing, and c) important fatigue factors to study. Data were collected anonymously and coded using conventional qualitative content analysis, with axial coding and summative analysis used to identify main themes and over-arching categories. RESULTS: Participants had an average of 12,348 (6,483) lifetime flying hours with 71 (14.5) hours of monthly flying. Forty-six percent of participants were captains. The six fatigue factor categories identified were: circadian disruption (e.g., circadian switches, redeyes), high workload (e.g., hassle factors, number of flights per duty), inadequate rest opportunity (e.g., minimum rest layovers, quality of rest facilities), schedule changes (e.g., unpredictability), regulation and policy issues (e.g., scheduling up to FAR 117 limits), and long sits (e.g., long wait times between flights). DISCUSSION: A field study informed by these results and designed to investigate the prevalence and impact of these factors in US short-haul operations is currently underway.

aviation↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Human Performance and Fatigue

This presentation summarizes some of the work completed by the Fatigue Countermeasures Lab work for the System-wide Safety Technical Challenge 1. Highlights include the development of the NASA PVT+ application, which includes a validated psychomotor vigilance task, fatigue ratings, hassle factors, fatigue countermeasures, and workload measures. The NASA PVT+ has been used in numerous studies in short and long-haul aviation operations. Two examples of how these have been used in the real world are described.

human performance↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Sleep and Performance in Space

This presentation summarizes challenges associated with sleeping in space. It reviews the factors associated with sleep loss during spaceflight, discusses the consequences of sleep loss during spaceflight, and also discusses countermeasures for sleep loss during spaceflight.

human performance↗