The Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL) is a world-renowned flight test laboratory that conducts research on human-in-the-loop and intelligent autonomous systems to increase efficiency, inter-operability, and safety. The lab has been in operation for 21 years with 2,400 hours of flight test and 305-plus projects. OPL has 11 instrumented aircraft (six manned, five unmanned) and six flight simulators. Systems of particular interest include flight decks, airborne sensor systems, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems, and automotive user interface systems. Six full-time researchers, four graduate students, four undergraduate students and seven part time employees support OPL. 

Main capabilities include: 

• Labs, shops, hangars, tooling, fixtures, instrumentation
• Current USAF/AFRL Public Aircraft Operations (PAO)
• Flight Test process for DoDD 5030.61/AWB-340 and GFR
• Experienced flight testers and human factors professionals
• Cognitive Assessment Tool Set (CATS)
• Flying many physiological episode assessment sensors such as ECG, EEG, GSR, SpO2, respiration, temp, air quality, physiological shirts, eye tracking