Although this advisory circular is for Commercial Human Space Flight, it can be applied to High-Risk activities in an industrial setting, such as process safety matters. The single most significant gap I see in past PHAs is the Human Factor(s) analyses. In some cases, I cannot even recognize the methodology used in the PHA. In the year 2024, it is about time we begin to take the HF analysis and the Facility Siting analysis as crucial parts of a PHA rather than a check-the-box compliance exercise.
This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance and an acceptable method, but not the only method, that may be used to account for human factors when crew must perform
safety critical roles in accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) § 460.15. Safety critical roles refer to crew being able to safely carry out their duties so that the vehicle will not harm the public.
Section 460.15 requires an operator to take the precautions necessary to account for human factors that can affect a crew’s ability to perform safety critical roles, including in the following safety critical areas: