Information Management on the Flight Deck of Highly Automated Aircraft

In recent years, an increase in the amount of information that is available on advanced flight decks has raised concerns about potential problems such as data overload, a failure to notice important changes/events due to masking, and prohibitive information access costs. To better understand the (effects of the) changing information landscape on modern flight decks, the main goals of this research were to (1) assess the type and quantity of information available to airline pilots on different generations of commercial aircraft, (2) examine how pilot tasks have changed as a result of new information management requirements, and (3) explore the impact of data-rich flight decks on pilot performance as well as mitigations to address information management vulnerabilities. Specifically, the authors compared the information that is presented on two aircraft pairs – the Boeing B737-500 and B787, and the Airbus A320 and A350. Next, the authors conducted four online interviews with aviation stakeholders regarding their experiences with changes in the amount and nature of flight deck information. The final chapter of this report discusses potential human factors implications of observed and reported changes. Overall, the project confirms the often-made claim that the amount of (primarily visual) information has increased on advanced aircraft. The report discusses both benefits and challenges associated with this trend and highlights issues that should be considered in the evaluation of proposed display designs, procedures and training approaches.

• Record URL:
  • https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/77507
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

  Ann Arbor, Michigan  United States  48109

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of NextGen
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Sarter, Nadine
• Publication Date: 2024-8-31

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Technical Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 83p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Aircraft; Flight decks; Human factors; Information display systems; Information management
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Data and Information Technology; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01932825
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: 692M152140010
• Files: NTL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 7 2024 8:37AM