00712969

Component

http://onlinepubs.trb.org...trr/1995/1480/1480-003.pdf

https://scholar.google.co...ante&publication_year=1995

Research in cockpit automation has indicated that pilots sometimes have difficulty understanding and operating cockpit automation systems. Problems with operating automated systems or the need to reprogram systems has the potential to keep pilots looking inside the cockpit during critical phases of flight when, in fact, they should be looking outside the cockpit. An alternative to reprogramming the automation, particularly, the flight management system, is either to turn the automation completely off or to reduce the level of automation to the basic autopilot. Observations indicate, however, that pilots often do not turn off the automation when lengthy reprogramming is required. The identification of specific conditions under which pilots disconnect cockpit automation was made to determine whether they disconnect it when it is appropriate to do so. Examination and analysis of a field study of automation use from a major air carrier data base containing observational activities of crews were conducted. Second, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Aviation Safety Reporting System data base was queried. Third, pilots from major car carriers were surveyed to ascertain their decisions to disconnect the automated systems during flight and the circumstances affecting those decisions. Several common factors were found to affect pilots' decisions to disconnect automated systems. These multiple factors were pilot experience, work load, rapid air traffic control-issued changes, automation performance, weather, equipment failures, and congested airspace. These factors support prior automation research findings by others investigating various automation issues.

This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1480, Public-Sector Aviation Issues: Graduate Research Award Papers 1993-1994. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

01495763

English

p. 17-24

1995

Transportation Research Record

0309061180

Figures (4) ; References (24)

Air pilots; Airline pilots; Automation; Cockpits; Decision making

Disconnection

Administration and Management; Aviation; Highways

TRIS, TRB

Oct 10 1995 12:00AM

• ACCOMMODATING DIFFERENCE: GENDER AND COCKPIT DESIGN IN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AVIATION
• COST/QUALITY TRADE-OFFS IN THE DEPARTURE PROCESS? EVIDENCE FROM THE MAJOR U.S. AIRLINES
• DIFFERENCES IN AIRCREW MANUAL SKILLS IN AUTOMATED AND CONVENTIONAL FLIGHT DECKS
• IMPACT OF DEREGULATION ON INVESTMENT AND PRODUCTION STRATEGIES IN THE COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
• INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK TO ANALYZE COORDINATION AND COMMUNICATION AMONG AIRCREW, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
• USING ADVANCED AVIONICS TO IMPROVE AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEM CAPACITY AND THE PROSPECT OF PUBLIC FUNDING FOR AIRLINE EQUIPMENT ACQUISITIONS