Low Visibility Operations/Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (LVO/SMGCS) Chart Usability: An Examination of Flightcrew Position Awareness in Homogeneous 300 ft/75 m RVR Conditions

Two studies were conducted to identify best practices for the design of Low Visibility Operations/Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (LVO/SMGCS) paper charts and flightcrew use of them in extremely low visibility surface conditions. In the Chart Usability study, the researchers gathered information to understand the general usability of LVO/SMGCS charts on flightcrew position awareness. In the Airport Markings study, the researchers evaluated different airport marking designs, which may influence the use of LVO/SMGCS charts under those same conditions. For each study, 24 air transport pilots (twelve flightcrews) with Cat II or III qualifications performed taxi scenarios in a simulation of Memphis International Airport at runway visual range (RVR) 300 ft/75 m at night. The RVR and night-time conditions were chosen to represent worst-case conditions for LVO/SMGCS operations. In some scenarios, flightcrews were given difficult air traffic control (ATC) clearances that contained appropriate clearance instructions but did not necessarily follow strict ATC clearance protocol. The study was particularly interested in examining the accuracy of flightcrew actions under these conditions while using LVO/SMGCS taxi charts. The results of these studies showed that, under extreme low-visibility conditions, an 8.5 x 11 inch (21.59 x 27.94 cm) black-and-white paper LVO/SMGCS chart was sufficient for flightcrews to maintain position awareness. Additionally, flightcrews generally responded to air traffic control instructions properly and reported their locations correctly. The detailed results of the studies were used to generate a list of recommended best practices for LVO/SMGCS charts and airport markings.

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• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/12112
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Langley Research Center
  Hampton, VA  United States  23681

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Human Factors Research and Engineering Division
  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Sparko, Andrea L
  • Chase, Stephanie G
  • Morowsky, Katarina
  • Jo, Young Jin
  • Norman, R Michael
  • Prinzel III, Lawrence (Lance) J
  • Kramer, Lynda J
  • Arthur III, Jarvis (Trey) J
  • Ellis, Kyle K E
  • Bailey, Randall E
  • Rehfeld, Sherri S
  • Yeh, Michelle
  • McGray, Bruce
• Publication Date: 2014-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 92p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air traffic control; Airport runways; Best practices; Charts; Flight crews; Flight simulators; Night visibility
• Identifier Terms: Surface Movement Guidance and Control System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Airport apron markings; Low visibility operations; Position awareness
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01543182
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT-VNTSC-FAA-14-14
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 11 2014 11:04AM