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One of the primary goals for members of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society should be to increase student awareness of the opportunities found in the field of human factors/engineering psychology. By increasing awareness of our discipline, we can improve our chances of attracting bright, talented, and energetic students to the various undergraduate and graduate programs around the country, which can only serve to enrich our profession and benefit society. Toward this end, we asked students at different levels of education what human factors and ergonomics meant to them. First, we assessed the awareness of the concept ergonomics in college-bound high school seniors. Second, we surveyed undergraduate students about their awareness of human factors/engineering psychology as a viable major. Third, current human factors/engineering psychology undergraduate and graduate students were asked why they chose to pursue this field of study. Implications for promoting the discipline of human factors/engineering psychology are discussed.

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Loss-of-control in flight was the largest category of fatal commercial air carrier accidents between 1994 and 2003 (Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group, 2004). Loss-of-control accidents were also the leading cause of general aviation accidents in the U.S. in 2003 (AOPA Air Safety Foundation, 2004). These accidents have been on the constant increase for all categories of flight, for the past 25 years. In response to this issue, The Flight Research Training Center was established, in cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to provide specific training for pilots on dealing with upset events that can lead to loss-of-control. This paper presents the initial results of an ongoing, longitudinal study investigating (a) user satisfaction, (b) pilots' subjective perceptions, and (c) the pilots' knowledge and procedure retention level of the elements of an upset recovery training program. Suggested protocols and methods to improve the durability of the knowledge and skills learned in the training program are offered. Mandatory requirements for training pilots to respond to unexpected events, unusual attitudes, and/or upset situations which could lead to loss-of-control are inconsistent and in most cases vague. The only requirement for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certification in the U.S. at the Private, Commercial, or Air Transport Pilot level is for the applicant to "exhibit adequate knowledge of recovery from unusual attitudes" (Federal Aviation Administration, 2002, p. 2-27). Operations under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91, Subpart K, Part 135, and Part 121 air carriers are not required to provide specific upset recovery training. However, there are a number of recommended practices and training programs addressing the loss-of-control issue.