A Post-Hoc Analysis of Navigation Errors During Surface Operations: Identification of Contributing Factors and Mitigating Solutions

Two full-mission simulation studies of surface operations conducted at NASA Ames Research Center revealed that, in low-visibility and night conditions, pilots committed navigation errors on 17% of trials. A post-hoc analysis of these navigation errors uncovered three distinct classes of errors: Planning Errors, Decision Errors, and Execution Errors. Each class has a unique set of contributing factors, and therefore demands unique solutions to mitigate error. Results from the two full-mission simulations revealed that advanced navigation and communication technologies designed specifically to address each class of error can mitigate pilot deviations and increase surface operations safety.