The research and development efforts of the Systems Safety Research Branch focus on the operational needs of the aerospace communities as viewed from a human factors perspective. Much of our research is conducted in collaboration with our aeronautics partners, often utilizing their facilities and their trained personnel in true operational settings.

Although the domain of our research is generally the human in the aeronautics system, the results are also applicable to the space community. To address those needs that are specific to the space community, other branch research is conducted in collaboration with our space center partners. Because of our close collaborations with our customers, research activities of the System Safety Research Branch reflect the near- and long-term requirements of these customers and result in products of direct interest to them.

These products are generally in the form of recommendations concerning procedures, scheduling, design specifications, training protocols, and the like. Although our research considers both efficiency and effectivness, our primary concern is for safety. And, although we consider all elements of the operational activity, our emphasis is on results as they impact the system as a whole. The following pages describe, from a disciplinary perspective, some of the specific human factors work presently ongoing in the System Safety Research Branch.