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What is Aviation Human Factors and Safety?

Get a Master's in Aviation Human Factors and Safety

The Aviation Human Factors and Safety B.S.

Human factors is the study of the human element in human–machine interactions.

Identifying and applying the principles of human-machine interaction to the design and operation of engineered systems, human factors has the goal of improving those systems—most importantly, in the area of safety.

Human factors and safety are critical in all aspects of the aviation industry, from aircraft cockpit design and maintenance to complex ground-based entities such as the National Airspace System.

The B.S. in aviation human factors and safety is truly interdisciplinary, encompassing psychology, engineering, science and design. The program prepares students for careers in fields such as safety analysis, human-centered design and accident investigation or advanced degrees in human factors or safety.

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Why Choose Florida Tech for Aviation Human Factors and Safety?

At Florida Tech, you'll master the theoretical foundations of human factors and safety. You'll also apply this knowledge through hands-on projects and human factors research, building a portfolio of career-relevant experience.

Florida Tech combines the benefits and resources of a larger school (think world-class faculty members, high-tech facilities and a high-quality curriculum) with a close-knit academic community, small class sizes and one-on-one time with professors.

Florida Tech’s faculty are accomplished researchers, aviators and engineers—experts in all aspects of human factors and safety. You’ll learn from educators with backgrounds as broad-ranging as the study of human factors itself. In our classrooms and at the flight line you’ll find faculty who have years of experience within the industry, including experienced pilots and experts in areas such as airline consulting, airport consulting, design, management and aviation human factors.

Florida Tech is a world-class aeronautics school—and one of the top institutions for engineering and science. Students benefit from our excellent facilities and aircraft fleet and a wide range of high-tech tools for hands-on learning and research, from wind tunnels and air quality monitoring systems to advanced modeling software.

The College of Aeronautics’ Skurla Hall houses a first-rate computer lab equipped with a wide range of applications and networking capabilities, offering experiential learning in aviation subjects such as airport design and planning.

Using computer-aided design (CAD) programs, you can complete projects in designing airports and airport terminals, and conduct experiments, such as noise studies. In the Basic Aviation Training Device (BATD) Lab, you can fly desktop simulators under the guidance of a flight instructor and practice air traffic control (ATC) operations, enhancing your aviation skills.

At the Emil Buehler Center for Aviation Training and Research, just minutes from campus at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, students have access to our state-of-the-art aircraft fleet, featuring Piper planes equipped with cutting-edge glass cockpits. The center also houses facilities for weather and flight planning, simulators and more, providing a comprehensive environment for aviation training and research.

Our 130-acre campus is located in a high-tech corridor on the Space Coast—NASA-Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral is just north of us—and many high-tech corporations and government and military organizations are located nearby. Our location provides an abundance of internship and employment opportunities for our students. You can’t find a better location for immersion in aviation human factors and safety.

When it’s time to relax, Florida Tech is just over the causeway from the Atlantic Ocean, with its 72 miles of beautiful beaches. We are minutes from the Indian River Lagoon, a highly biodiverse estuary, and it’s a short trip to the Florida Keys and the Orlando theme parks. We also have a rich campus life that includes a wide range of intramural and collegiate sportsclubs and social activities.

As a human factors and safety student you’ll find a world of internship opportunities in many different industries, with organizations such as Avidyne Corporation (right here in Melbourne), the U.S. Department of Labor, JetBlue Airways and Garmin.

Aviation human factors and safety students benefit from the strong connections the College of Aeronautics has within the aviation industry. You'll have the chance to meet recruiters from major airlines, airports and aviation-related companies at university career fairs. These opportunities help you expand your professional network and build an impressive résumé—often leading to job offers even before graduation.

If you want to prepare for a career as a professional pilot, have a look at the B.S. in aviation human factors and safety with flight.

Interested in air traffic control? An air traffic control (ATC) specialization is offered in conjunction with the B.S. in aviation human factors and safety.

This specialization provides in-depth knowledge of ATC and the aviation industry and hands-on experience with industry-standard air traffic control programs to ensure graduates have the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed as air traffic controllers.

The ATC specialization meets the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program and is FAA-approved.

Graduates of the AT-CTI program may be eligible to bypass the Air Traffic Basics Course covered during the first five weeks of qualification training at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City. You must successfully complete all required training at the FAA Academy for employment with the FAA.

Learn more about air traffic control at Florida Tech.

Careers in Aviation Human Factors and Safety

Employers regularly seek out graduates with an aviation human factors and safety degree from Florida Tech. Airport consulting firms, government organizations, industry-related businesses, airports and airlines who have offered jobs to Florida Tech grads include:

  • Air Force Research Laboratory
  • American Airlines
  • American Eagle
  • Delta Air Lines
  • DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • FlightSafety International
  • Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
  • JetBlue Airways
  • Lufthansa
  • NASA
  • National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
  • Philadelphia International Airport
  • SkyWest Airlines
  • Southwest Airlines
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security
  • United Airlines
  • Various federal and state agencies

Career options could include:

  • Product development team lead
  • Integration specialist
  • Ergonomist
  • Technical specialist
  • Human factors research scientist
  • Usability expert

Looking ahead to your future career can be exciting! Keep in mind that certain roles may entail additional prerequisites, such as an advanced degree.

Florida Tech Career Services assists students, alumni and employers in their search for careers and employee candidates. We help students develop career plans and job-search skills. Explore our Career Toolbox to learn more about our services and access additional resources.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provides information about specific jobs including median annual pay, working conditions and job outlook. Check the handbook for information on the outlook for aviation human factors and safety careers.

Advanced Degree Options

After receiving their aviation human factors and safety degree, many of our graduates pursue advanced degrees in aviation human factors and other aviation-related fields.

Our alumni choose programs such as:

Explore the Aviation Human Factors and Safety, B.S., Curriculum

The Aviation Human Factors and Safety, B.S., Curriculum

The B.S. in aviation human factors and safety offers a strong foundation in math, physics, aeronautical sciences and the global aviation industry.

From day one, you'll take specialized courses like aviation basics and meteorology, with opportunities for hands-on projects and research—even redesigning an aircraft cockpit!

As you explore human factors and safety, you'll study aviation science, the National Airspace System and complete senior-level courses in airport management, aviation security and aviation law.

  • Introduction to Aviation Psychology
  • Human-Machine Systems
  • Applied Ergonomics

Check the catalog for a description of all courses.

Download the Aviation Human Factors and Safety, B.S. Curriculum now!

A student and flight instructor examining a plane

Leading the Way in Human Factors and Safety Research

Real-world, hands-on experience is built into every major, and human factors and safety students enjoy extensive opportunities to collaborate with faculty and other students in ongoing research programs.

Here, you'll find research is multidisciplinary, spanning fields such as engineering, human factors, safety, psychology, computer science and biology.

The Human Factors: Aeronautics, Safety, Sociability, Interfaces, Sustainability and Training (HF ASSIST) Lab researches a range of human factors topics, many related to detecting and mitigating aviation-related risks.

We’re a core university in PEGASAS, the Partnership to Enhance General Aviation Safety, Accessibility and Sustainability.

Our research through PEGASAS has included topics such as the effects of angle-of-attack instruments in fixed wing aircraft and improvement of flight data management systems in rotorcraft.

In the ATLAS Lab (Advancing Technology-Interaction and Learning in Aviation Systems), students work with faculty to study cognition and learning in aviation systems and beyond, and to develop ways to optimize human performance.

From pilot information displays for the advanced air mobility (AAM)/urban air mobility (UAM) industry to learner engagement during UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) training, ATLAS Lab explores how people process information, develop expertise and team with machines and other humans.

 

Learn more about Aviation Human Factors and Safety at Florida Tech on the website.

Beyond the Classroom

Aviation majors gain leadership and professional experience through participation in academic organizations and honor societiesstudent government and student organizations, including:

Check out other networking opportunities in groups such as the Florida Tech Flight Team, the Drone Club  and 200+ other campus student organizations.

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