Alan Hobbs

Affiliation– NASA Ames Research Center

Division– Human Systems Integration Division (TH)

Phone– 650-604-1336

Email– alan.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 Award, UAS Detect and Avoid Team

2013- NASA Group Achievement Award, Controller Alertness and Fatigue Monitoring Study

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

1999- Privately Sponsored, Royal Aeronautical Society / BF Goodrich- Aerospace Journalist of the Year

1995- Privately Sponsored, Qantas/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 (3^rd Ed.)  (pp. 477-515). Academic Press.

Hobbs, A. (2022). Remotely piloted aircraft systems. In Human Factors in Aviation and Aerospace (3^rd 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. (2023) Survey Development and Initial Data: Flight Context and Pilot Techniques in Everyday Flights, 22nd International Symposium on Aviation Psychology (ISAP), Rochester, NY

Hobbs, A.(2021) Aircraft maintenance and inspection, In 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. (2020) An evaluation of fatigue factors in maritime pilot work scheduling, Chronobiology 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. (2018) Organizational factors and safety culture, In 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. (2018) San Francisco Bar Pilot Fatigue Study, Technical Memorandum NASA/TM-2018-219934. Moffett Field: NASA Ames Research Center

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

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

Hobbs, A., O’Hara, J., Adelstein, B.D., & Null, C.H. (2014) Defining reliability and robustness from a human factors perspective, Paper 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. (2012) Evaluating 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. (2011) Fatigue 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. (2010) A circadian rhythm in skill-based errors in aviation maintenance, Chronobiology International, 27, 304-16

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

Hobbs, A., Herwitz, S., & Gallaway, G. (2009) Human Factors in the Ground Support of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, In 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.  (2009) The coming paradigm shift in maintenance: from metals to composites, In proceedings of the 15th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology, (pp. 226-231). Dayton, OH: Wright State University

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

Hobbs, A.  Adelstein, B.D., O’Hara, J. & Null, C.H. (2008) Three principles of human-system integration, 8th 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. (2006) Design, development, test and evaluation: Human factors engineering, (NASA/TM-2006-214535). Washington, DC; NASA

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

Hobbs, A. (2005) Latent Failures in the Hangar, ISASI 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. (2003) A correspondence analysis of ASRS maintenance incident reports, Proceedings of 12th International Symposium on Aviation Psychology

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

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

Reason, J. & Hobbs, A. (2003) Managing maintenance error: A practical guide, Ashgate: Aldershot

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

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

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

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

Hobbs, A. (1998) Investigation of Human and Organizational Factors, In 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