5.1 The safe design of a system, in part, comes from recognising that the roles and performance of the human components within those systems form part of the design process. This chapter provides guidance on the application of Human Factors Engineering (HFE) design requirements.
5.2 When considering new designs or modifications, the designer should ensure the identification of average human capabilities, and the minimisation of performance requirements which exceed those capabilities, through application of appropriate human factors design requirements. All safe system designs should therefore not only take into account the limitations of people but also build in safeguards to mitigate ‘worst credible scenarios’ should the limitations be exceeded. The application of HFE considerations in new design or modifications can be broadly separated into two areas:
HFE Considerations in individual System Design, which covers the application of HFE in each aircraft system’s design, to optimise normal and worst credible scenario operations; and
HFE Considerations in Systems Integration, which ensures HFE consideration of the workloads placed on personnel when the integrated aircraft system is not operating as intended, in worst credible scenarios.
5.3 The ADF Human Factors Engineering design requirements are applicable to aircraft acquisition and major modification projects and minor changes to type design. This chapter presents the Authority prescribed design requirements for HFE.
5.4 Design Requirement (Essential). HFE for Defence aircraft designs must satisfy the requirements of one of the following standards:
US DoD MIL-STD-1472 G Human Engineering
UK military standard DEF STAN 00.25 Human Factors for Design of Equipment
the applicable FAA/EASA regulations for the aircraft type.
5.5 While HFE design considerations for civil certified platforms can be found embedded within the various systems’ design requirements within FAR/EASA regulations, most commercial manufacturers still apply the requirements defined in MIL-STD-1472 for HFE certifications of airborne systems under the FAA. Consequently, for civil certified platforms, the commercial HFE standards are either the FARs/JARs, and/or MIL-STD-1472, depending on the scope of the new design.
5.6 Design Requirement (Essential). Methods and techniques for assessing hazards arising from HFE considerations must be integrated within the System Safety Program.
5.7 HFE considerations are an essential element of a successful System Safety Program, and must therefore be assessed together with hardware and software safety considerations. Further guidance on the considerations for System Safety Programs is detailed in Section 2, Chapter 2 – System Safety.
5.8 Design Requirement (Recommended). HFE considerations should be formally captured and documented.
5.9 A consolidated document that captures all HFE considerations, HFE tools and methods utilised provides a beneficial management and coordination tool. The complexity of the document is commensurate to the relative platform risks, the weapon system’s configuration, role and environment, design complexity and HFE coordination required. Commonly within Defence, a Human Engineering Program Plan (HEPP) is generated as the consolidated document.
5.10 Further guidance on Human Factors Engineering design considerations can be provided by the chapter sponsor.