Consultants Specializing in Aviation Psychology, Pilot Selection, and Human Factors

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Associates
Our associates specialize in three major areas: pilot selection, evaluation, and quantitative sciences. To view the biographies of the associates in each of these areas, click on the links below.

Dr. Diane L. Damos
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Dr. William Howse
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Dr. Diane L. Damos is the president of Damos Aviation Services, Inc. She received her doctorate in aviation psychology from the University of Illinois in 1977. Between 1977 and 1997 she served on the faculties of the State University of New York at Buffalo, Arizona State University, and the University of Southern California. In 1997 she resigned her faculty position to work full-time at Damos Aviation Services, Inc. She is a fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Dr. Damos has been involved with pilot selection since 1970. She assisted in the development of computer-based tests of information processing and cognition for pilot selection for both the United States Navy and Air Force. She has consulted with numerous domestic and foreign air carriers and training schools on both ab initio and experienced pilot selection. She has authored five articles in refereed journals on pilot selection as well as ten technical reports and professional articles. She has conducted short courses on developing pilot selection systems in the United States, Africa, Europe, and the Far East.

Dr. Damos also has been involved extensively in the area of pilot training. Her most recent research has focused on automated flight systems. She has worked with a major U.S. air carrier to improve its automated flight systems training program.

Dr. Damos is a consulting editor for the International Journal of Aviation Psychology and a past chair of the Aerospace Technical Group of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. She also was appointed to the United States National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Panel of Human Factors in Air Traffic Control Automation. She is a commercial, multi-engine pilot with an instrument rating. She also holds the ground instructor advanced and instrument ratings.

Selected Publications:

Damos, D.L. (1998). Purchasing new pilot selection tests. The Journal of Professional Aviation Training, 1(1), 8-9.

Damos, D.L., John, R.S., & Lyall, E.A. (1999). The effect of level of automation on time spent looking out of the cockpit. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 9, 303-314.

Damos, D.L., and Gould, R.B. (1999). Hiring: Can your company prove it doesn’t discriminate? NBAA Digest, 12(8), 7.

Damos, D.L. (1998). The effect of interruptions on Part 121 air carrier operations. Los Angeles, CA.: University of Southern California.

Damos, D.L., & Koonce, J. (1997). Methodological and analytical concerns on the pilot selection research of Park and Lee (1992). Human Factors, 39, 9-13.

Damos, D.L. (1996). Pilot selection batteries: Shortcomings and perspectives. International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 6, 199-209.

Damos, D.L. (1993). Using meta analysis to examine the predictive validity of single- and multiple-task measures to flight performance. Human Factors, 35, 615-628.

Damos, D.L., (1987). Some considerations in the design of a computerized human information processing battery. (NAMRL Monograph 35). Pensacola, FL: Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.

Damos, D.L., & Gibb G.D. (1986) Development of a computer-based naval aviation selection test battery (Report No. NAMRL-1319). Pensacola, FL: Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory.

Damos, D.L., & Lintern, G. (1981). A comparison of single- and dual-task measures to predict simulator performance of beginning student pilots. Ergonomics, 24, 673-684.

Damos, D.L., (1978). Residual attention as a predictor of pilot performance. Human Factors, 20, 435-440.

Dr. William Howse received his doctorate in Audiology and Speech Pathology in 1982 from the Florida State University. He received a Bachelor of Arts in 1972 and a Master of Arts in 1977, both in Experimental Psychology, from the California State University of Los Angeles. Dr. Howse has more than 30 years experience in aviation related research and development. Before retiring from Federal service he was Chief of the Army Aviation Research Unit of the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. Dr. Howse managed a major segment of the Institute's manpower, personnel, and training research and development and studies programs. Dr. Howse was part of a team that developed the Multi-Track Test Battery, Multi-Track Assignment Algorithm and the Dual Track Test Battery, which were used to predict training performance and assign Army Aviation students to operational aircraft. He initiated programs to develop the Selection Instrument for Flight Training, a modernized selection instrument for Army Aviation, the Track Assignment Classification Tool for assignment of Army aviators to advanced aircraft, and an Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) operator selection instrument.

Dr. Howse has conducted numerous assessments of aviator selection and classification instrument performance and is a co-developer of an automated system for scoring and reporting results of the Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test. He has taught test administration, scoring and reporting to the Army Test Control Officers, served on the Pilot Selection Special Topics Group of the Training and Personnel Systems Science and Technology Evaluation and Management Committee that developed a model for tri-service collaboration and cost reduction. He has twice chaired the Human Factors in Aviation Screening and Performance Prediction Subgroup of the Department of Defense Human Factors Engineering Technical Advisory Group, and has served as the U.S. Army Representative on the EuroNATO Aircrew Selection Working Group and the EuroNATO Aircrew Human Factors Working Group.

Among his awards and commendations, Dr. Howse has received the Department of the Army Southwest Asia Service Medal, Department of the Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service, and Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award. Dr. Howse is a member of the Army Aviation Association of America, the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. He is a qualified Contracting Officer's Representative and has Level III certification in Army Acquisition Science and Technology Management.

Selected Publications:

Elfner, L.F., Stanny, R.R. and Howse, W.R. (1980). Evoked Response Measures of Resource Allocation: Effects of Primary Task Load. Final Report, Air Force Office of Scientific Research project number 61102F-2313-109.

Elfner, L.F., Stanny, R.R. and Howse, W.R.(1980). Evoked Response Measures of Resource Allocation: Effects of Primary Task Load II. Final Report, Air Force Office of Scientific Research project number 61102F-2313-109.

Franklin, T.R. and Howse, W.R. (1995). A Force XXI approach to selection of Army Special Forces aviators. Army Aviation. 24, 20-21.

Intano, G.P., Howse, W.R. and Lofaro, R.J. (1991). The Selection of an Experimental Test Battery for Aviator Cognitive, Psychomotor Abilities and personal Traits. (ARI Research Note 91-21). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Intano, G.P., Howse, W.R. and Lofaro, R.J. (1991). Initial Validation of the Army Aviator Classification Process. (ARI Research Note 91-38). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Intano, G.P. and Howse, W.R. (1994). Final Validation of the Army Aviator Classification Process. (ARI Working Paper 94-01). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Intano, G.P. and Howse, W.R. (1991). Predicting Performance in Army Aviation Common Core Flight Training. (ARI Research Note 92-06). U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.

Perry, D.C., Howse, W.R. and Dolgin, D.L. (1992). Pilot Selection Special Topic Group Report to the TAPSTEM Joint Coordinating Group for Manpower and Personnel. Washington, DC; Training and Personnel Systems Science and Technology Evaluation and Management Committee, 25 February.

Salas, E., Wilson, K.A, Burke, C.S., Wightman, D.C. and Howse, W.R. (2006). Crew Resource Management Training: Research, Practice, and Lessons Learned. In Robert C. Williges (Ed.), Reviews of Human Factors and Ergonomics. Vol. 2. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.

Salas, E. Wilson, K.A., Burke, C.S., Wightman, D.C., and Howse, W.R. (2006, Spring). A Checklist for crew resource management training. Ergonomics in Design, 14(2), 6-15.

Stewart, J.E., Johnson, D.M. and Howse, W.R. (2008). Fidelity Requirements for Army Aviation Training Devices: Issues and Answers. (ARI Research Report 1887). Arlington, VA: U. S. Army Research Institute for Behavioral and Social Sciences.