The Flight Cognition Laboratory, part of the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames Research Center, is studying the cognitive, team and organizational processes that underlie the performance of pilots, air traffic controllers, physicians, nurses, and other skilled professionals.  This research involves a combination of well-controlled laboratory studies of basic cognitive mechanisms, theoretical modeling, simulation studies, field observations, and analysis of accident and incident reports.  We work closely with airline departments and medical personnel to provide a bridge between research and aviation and medical operations, respectively, with the goal of improving safety and efficiency.  We present our findings at professional conferences and meetings, and writing technical reports and journal articles, as well as magazine articles written especially for the aviation and medical operations and training communities.  We also work with other user groups, such as process control industries to improve safety.
 
Our research topics include:

- The challenges of emergency and abnormal situations (EAS)
- Design of operating procedures and checklists
- Training and decision-making
- Technologically advanced aircraft and single-pilot operations
- Prospective memory
- Human error, skilled performance, and safety
- Concurrent task management
- Effects of situational stress on skilled performance
- Visual search and attention
- Checklist use, monitoring, and data entry errors