Anthropometric Standards on the Flight Deck: Origins of Control-Force-Exertion Limits and Comparisons with Recent Surveys of Human Performance Limitations

Abstract

Sections of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 23.143 and 25.143) contain maximum limitations on the force that a pilot can be required to exert on manual controls. The origins of the data, used for testing and certification of aircraft, are unclear. Although some values were recently modified to be congruent with European standards, the continued applicability of these standards is questionable because of the lack of information regarding their origin, changing pilot demographics (a higher percentage of women pilots, an aging pilot population and suspected changes in the overall population), and changing aircraft-control environments. The criteria were compared with several later samples to determine what portion of the potential and actual pilot populations can meet the force-application requirements. Preliminary data reported for women pilots and nonpilots were compared with previously collected data on similar populations and with the standards.