 | Faculty and students of Wichita State University associated with the National Institute for Aviation Research are working on a study in cooperation with the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in an effort to determine whether age restricts the abilities of pilots. |
NIAR became involved in the project when graduate student Cindy Miller, a pilot and member of the AOPA suggested that NIAR submit a proposal.
Miller, along with Dr. Alex Chaparro, director of the human factors lab at NIAR and associate professor of psychology at WSU; Dan McConnell, assistant professor of psychology at WSU; and two other students, began a literature review in early June in order to determine whether the decrease in perceptual, cognitive and motor skills associated with aging can negatively impact pilots flying ability.
Publication of the final report is anticipated in November.
Chaparro believes the research project with the AOPA will help establish NIAR as a resource for organizations interested in similar issues.
NIAR organizes technical writing workshop
Technical writers in Wichita, Kan. had the opportunity to test and improve their skills June 1-2 at the first Aviation Technical Writer's Workshop organized by NIAR.
The event, held at Cessna Aircraft Company at their Mid-Continent campus, was organized as part of ongoing research funded by the Federal Aviation Administration in an effort to disseminate findings from a research program to improve maintenance documentation.
More than 60 technical writers attended the two-day workshop. The technical writers participated in exercises designed to incorporate lessons learned from the research program and to apply them firsthand. One of the exercises included writing assembly instructions for a LEGO ® model so that another team member could assemble the model. The challenges of technical writing were demonstrated when none of the teams were able to assemble the model without assistance.
Participants also attended presentations given by experts from NIAR, the FAA, The Boeing Company, and the National Transportation Safety Board.
Dr. Alex Chaparro, director of the human factors laboratory at NIAR, said the event was a success and NIAR received several requests for additional seminars.
"We had a good showing," Chaparro said. "It went really well."
Chaparro said he hopes NIAR will be able to host similar workshops in the near future for writers outside the Wichita area.
