Dr Iya Solodilova-Whiteley

Dr Iya Solodilova-Whiteley is a Human Factors Senior Systems Engineer at Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd in Bristol, UK. Iya is at the forefront of the research into understanding Cultural, Organisational and Social factors in UK Defence. Iya is leading an ESA funded project on the development of Tools for Psychological Support during long-term exploration missions to the Moon and Mars.

Previously employed at Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, UK, Iya specifically tailored and implemented a Human Factors Integration program in their Aircraft Design Office; composed and applied practical Cognitive Engineering training programs for all levels of Engineers, and oversaw Human Machine Interface issues in the conversion modifications of a C130H Hercules aircraft into a modern glass cockpit design. Iya has a PhD from the University of Bath, Computer Science Department. Iya has developed a way of designing a modern aircraft cockpit as a coherent, intuitive and fully integrated information workspace. Iya has developed techniques to investigate pilots and UAV operators’ informational demands using a ‘Cued-Recall-Debrief’ method, that are then used to inform intuitive display design. Her PhD research attracted attention from both the US Air Force Research Laboratory and NASA Ames. She actively publishes and presents her research findings.

In previous employment for Emirates Airlines Iya has recruited aircrew from over 70 nationalities. She has a background in Clinical Psychology and has been in the Aviation Human Factors field since 1998. To better understand pilots’ needs, Iya attended Airbus 320 pilot conversion courses from conventional to glass cockpit aircraft and gained knowledge of modern aircrafts through computer based training on Boeing 777 and Hercules C130J. Iya is a member of the Association of Aviation Psychologists. She also a trained pilot, rescue scuba diver and a skydiver.