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Alan Hobbs, Senior Research Associate at NASA Ames Research Center

Alan Hobbs

Senior Research Associate

Affiliation– NASA Ames Research Center

Division– Human Systems Integration Division (TH)

Phone– 650-604-1336

Emailalan.hobbs@nasa.gov

Mail Stop– 262-4

Professional Bio

Alan Hobbs is a Senior Research Associate with the San Jose State University Foundation, assigned to the Human Systems Integration Division at NASA Ames Research Center, California. Before moving to Ames, Alan was a human performance investigator with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). He has published and taught extensively on the topic of human factors and is co-author with Jim Reason of the book “Managing Maintenance Error: A Practical Guide.” He has a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Research Interests

Human contribution to safety, remotely piloted aircraft systems, advanced air mobility, human factors in maintenance, investigation methods.

Awards/Honors

2018- NASA Group Achievement AwardUAS Detect and Avoid Team

2013- NASA Group Achievement AwardController Alertness and Fatigue Monitoring Study

2007- NASA Group Achievement AwardNASA Engineering and Safety Center- Design, Development, Test, Evaluation Considerations for Robust and Reliable Spacecraft Assessment

1999- Privately SponsoredRoyal Aeronautical Society / BF Goodrich- Aerospace Journalist of the Year

1995- Privately SponsoredQantas/Chartered Institute of Transport Award for Excellence- Human Factors in Airline Maintenance

Selected Publications

* Many of the publications below can be found on the NASA Technical Report Server here- https://ntrs.nasa.gov.

Kaliardos, W. N., Holbrook, J., & Hobbs, A. (2024). Identifying Human Factors Research for Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility. Paper presented at 43rd Digital Avionics Systems Conference, San Diego, CA, Sept 29 – Oct 3.

Dempsey, D., Sargent, R., Hobbs, A., et al. (2024). Trade Space Analyses: Balancing Crew and Mission Design Parameters. NASA Technical Memorandum TM-20240011265

Kanki, B. G., & Hobbs, A. (2022). Maintenance human factors and flight safety. In Human Factors in Aviation and Aerospace (3rd Ed.)  (pp. 477-515). Academic Press.

Hobbs, A. (2022). Remotely piloted aircraft systems. In Human Factors in Aviation and Aerospace (3rd Ed.)  (pp. 399-419). Academic Press.

Cragg, C. H., Graf, J. C., & Hobbs, A. (2021). Risk Reduction of Orion  Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) Program Government-Furnished Equipment for Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS). NASA Technical Memorandum TM−20210013869

Null, C., Hobbs, A., O’Hara, J., & Dischinger, C. (2020).  Guidance  for Human Error Analysis. NASA Technical Memorandum TM-2020-20205001486

Billman, D., Hobbs, A., Cusano, L.,  & Szládovics, N. (2023Survey Development and Initial Data: Flight Context and Pilot Techniques in Everyday Flights22nd International Symposium on Aviation Psychology (ISAP), Rochester, NY

Hobbs, A.(2021Aircraft maintenance and inspectionIn R. Vickerman (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Transportation, Vol 2 (pp 25-32). Elsevier

Gregory, K.B., Hobbs, A., Parke, B.K., Bathurst, M., Pradhan, S., & Flynn-Evans, E. (2020An evaluation of fatigue factors in maritime pilot work schedulingChronobiology International, 2020 Sep-Oct;37(9-10):1495-1501. Epub 2020 Sep 10, DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2020.1817932 

Kanki, B.G., & Hobbs, A.N. (2018Organizational factors and safety cultureIn B. Kanki, J. Clervoy, & G. Sandal (Eds.), Space Safety and Human Performance (pp. 621-651). Cambridge, MA: Butterworth-Heinemann

Hobbs, A., Gregory, K.B., Parke, B.K., Pradhan, S., Caddick, A., Bathurst, M., & Flynn-Evans, E. (2018San Francisco Bar Pilot Fatigue StudyTechnical Memorandum NASA/TM-2018-219934. Moffett Field: NASA Ames Research Center

Hobbs, A. (2017Remotely Piloted AircraftIn S. Landry (Ed.), Handbook of Human Factors in Air Transportation Systems (pp 379-395). Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press

Hobbs, A, & Lyall, B. (2016Human factors guidelines for remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) remote pilot stations (RPS)Contractor Report prepared for NASA UAS in the NAS Project

Hobbs, A, & Lyall, B. (2016Human Factors Guidelines for Unmanned Aircraft SystemsErgonomics in Design, 24, 23-28 

Hobbs, A., O’Hara, J., Adelstein, B.D., & Null, C.H. (2014Defining reliability and robustness from a human factors perspectivePaper presented at 7th Conference of the International Association for the Advancement of Space Safety. Friedrichshafen, Germany

Orasanu, J.M., Parke, B.K., Kraft, N., Tada, Y., Hobbs, A., Anderson, B.R., McDonnell, L.K., &  Dulchinos, V. (2012Evaluating the Effectiveness of Schedule Changes for Air Traffic Service (ATS) Providers: Controller Alertness and Fatigue Monitoring Study.Technical Report DOT/FAA/HFD-13/001. Washington, DC: Federal Aviation Administration

Hobbs, A., Avers, K.B., & Hiles, J. J. (2011Fatigue Risk Management in Aviation Maintenance: Current Best Practices and Potential Future Countermeasures (Report No. DOT/FAA/AM-11/10)Washington, DC: Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Aerospace Medicine

Hobbs, A., Williamson, A., & Van Dongen, H. (2010A circadian rhythm in skill-based errors in aviation maintenanceChronobiology International, 27, 304-16

Parke, B.K., Hobbs, A., & Kanki, B. G. (2010Passing the baton: An experimental study of shift handoverProceedings of the 54th Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Meeting, San Francisco, CA

Hobbs, A., Herwitz, S., & Gallaway, G. (2009Human Factors in the Ground Support of Small Unmanned Aircraft SystemsIn proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, (pp. 20-25). Dayton, OH: Wright State University

Hobbs, A., Brasil, C.L., & Kanki, B. G.  (2009The coming paradigm shift in maintenance: from metals to compositesIn proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, (pp. 226-231). Dayton, OH: Wright State University

Hobbs, A., & Kanki, B. G. (2008Patterns of error in confidential maintenance incident reportsInternational Journal of Aviation Psychology, 18, (1) 5-16

Hobbs, A.  Adelstein, B.D., O’Hara, J. & Null, C.H. (2008Three principles of human-system integration8th International Symposium of the Australian Aviation Psychology Association. Sydney, Australia, 8 – 11 April 2008

Hobbs, A.,& Benier, S. (2006“You won’t even know we are working on it”. Human factors in airways facilities maintenance. Paper presented at 7th Symposium of Australian Aviation Psychology Association, November 2006

Adelstein, B.D , Hobbs, A., O’Hara, J. & Null, C.H. (2006Design, development, test and evaluation: Human factors engineering(NASA/TM-2006-214535). Washington, DC; NASA

Hobbs, A. & Tada, Y. (2006The development and validation of the Maintenance Environment QuestionnaireProceedings of 7th International Symposium of the Australian Aviation Psychology Association, Sydney, Australia, November 9-12

Hobbs, A. (2005Latent Failures in the HangarISASI Forum 38, 1, 11-13,30 

Hobbs, A. (2004) Human factors, the last frontier of aviation safety?, International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 14, 335-341, https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327108ijap1404_1

Hobbs, A., & Kanki, B. G. (2003A correspondence analysis of ASRS maintenance incident reportsProceedings of 12th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology

Hobbs, A., & Williamson, A. (2003Associations between errors and contributing factors in aircraft maintenanceHuman Factors, 45, 186-201

Hobbs, A. (2003Error ‘molecules’ and their implications for system safetyHuman Factors and Aerospace Safety, 4, 307-320

Reason, J. & Hobbs, A. (2003Managing maintenance error: A practical guideAshgate: Aldershot

Hobbs, A., & Williamson, A (2002Human factor determinants of worker safety and work quality outcomesAustralian Journal of Psychology, 54, 157-161

Hobbs, A. (2002Maintenance Mistakes and System SolutionsVector Magazine (September-October), pp 3-8

Hobbs, A., & Williamson, A (2002Skills, rules and knowledge in aircraft maintenanceErgonomics. 45, 290-308 

Hobbs, A., & Williamson, A (2002Unsafe acts and unsafe outcomes in aircraft maintenanceErgonomics, 45, 866-882

Hobbs, A. (1998Investigation of Human and Organizational FactorsIn K.M. Goeters (Ed). Aviation psychology: A science and a profession. (pp 257-265). Aldershot, UK: Ashgate

Recent Conference Proceedings

Billman, D, Hobbs, A., Cusano, L, & Szládovics, N. (2024). The Contribution of Pilots to Resilience in Normal Operations: A Survey Approach. Presentation to Aviation Safety Infoshare. Kansas City, MO. Nov 13-15

Dempsey, D., Nieman, C. Huang, C., Sargent, R., Latorella, K., Hobbs, A., Lewis, R., Chaikin, A., &  Null C. (2024). Humans to Mars, But How Many? Using Training Requirements Modeling to Inform Crew Size. Presentation to DoD HFE TAG, Huntsville AL, April 22-26