Effects of Modality on Interrupted Flight Deck Performance: Implications for Data Link

Externally-imposed tasks frequently interrupt ongoing task performance in the commercial flight deck. While normally managed without consequence, basic research as well as aviation accident and incident investigations show that interruptions can negatively affect performance and safety. This research investigates the influence of interruption and interrupted task modality on pilot performance in a simulated commercial flight deck. Fourteen current commercial airline pilots performed approach scenarios in a fixed-base flight simulator. Air traffic control instructions, conveyed either aurally or visually ( via a data link system) interrupted a visual task (obtaining information from the Flight Management System) and an auditory task (listening to the automated terminal information service recording). Some results confirm the hypothesized performance advantage of cross-modality conditions, more compelling nature of auditory interruptions, and interruption-resistance of auditory ongoing tasks. However, taken together, results suggest the four interaction conditions had different effects on pilot performance. These results have implications for the design of data link systems, and for facilitating interruption management through interface design, aiding, and training programs.

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A Simulator Study of the Effect of Information Load and Datalink on Crew Error

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/154193129403800112 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 66-70

Author(s):

Dennis G. Hrebec ◽

Susan E. Infield ◽

Susan Rhodes ◽

Fred E. Fiedler

Keyword(s):

Traffic Control ◽

Load Condition ◽

Information Load ◽

Communication Modality ◽

Voice Communications ◽

Fixed Base ◽

Independent Variable ◽

The Voice ◽

Flight Deck ◽

High Information

This study investigated the effects of air traffic control (ATC) induced information load and ATC communication modality on crew error in a fixed-base Boeing 747-400 flight deck simulator. To accomplish this, data from an experiment conducted by Boeing (Logan, et al., 1992) were re-analyzed. In this experiment, flightcrews engaged in two high-fidelity, full-mission scenarios. For this re-analysis, the variability in the amount of information ATC transmitted to the crew in the scheduled clearances was examined as an independent variable. To quantify this measure of information load, each scheduled ATC clearance was decomposed into mutually exclusive informational units called propositions. Each proposition consisted of one discrete “chunk” of information. On average, ATC clearances in the high information load condition contained more than two and a half times as many propositions as clearances in the low information load condition. Flightcrews made significantly more errors, and more errors per proposition, in the high information load condition than in the low information load condition. This indicates that it was the density of the information, or how many propositions were packed into each clearance, and not just the quantity of information which affected crew performance. Another manipulated variable was ATC communication modality. Each flightcrew participated in one scenario using a standard voice communications modality exclusively and in the other scenario using a combination of voice and digital DataLink. Though flightcrew error was significantly lower in the DataLink condition than the voice condition, this tendency was moderated by information load. In the low information load condition, flightcrews committed approximately the same number of errors in the voice and DataLink conditions, but in the high information load condition, flightcrews committed many more errors in the voice condition than the DataLink condition.

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The Impact of Voice, Data Link, and Mixed Air Traffic Control Environments on Flight Deck Procedures

Air Traffic Control Quarterly ◽

10.2514/atcq.11.4.293 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 293-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Sandy Lozito ◽

Savita Verma ◽

Lynne Martin ◽

Melisa Dunbar ◽

Alison McGann

Keyword(s):

Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic Control ◽

Air Traffic ◽

Data Link ◽

Voice Data ◽

The Impact ◽

Flight Deck

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Asiana Airlines Flight 214

Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors ◽

10.1027/2192-0923/a000066 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 113-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stephanie Chow ◽

Stephen Yortsos ◽

Najmedin Meshkati

Keyword(s):

Human Factors ◽

Aviation Safety ◽

Cultural Factors ◽

Vital Role ◽

Cultural Issues ◽

Flight Crew ◽

Pilot Performance ◽

Engineering Designs ◽

Flight Deck

This article focuses on a major human factors–related issue that includes the undeniable role of cultural factors and cockpit automation and their serious impact on flight crew performance, communication, and aviation safety. The report concentrates on the flight crew performance of the Boeing 777–Asiana Airlines Flight 214 accident, by exploring issues concerning mode confusion and autothrottle systems. It also further reviews the vital role of cultural factors in aviation safety and provides a brief overview of past, related accidents. Automation progressions have been created in an attempt to design an error-free flight deck. However, to do that, the pilot must still thoroughly understand every component of the flight deck – most importantly, the automation. Otherwise, if pilots are not completely competent in terms of their automation, the slightest errors can lead to fatal accidents. As seen in the case of Asiana Flight 214, even though engineering designs and pilot training have greatly evolved over the years, there are many cultural, design, and communication factors that affect pilot performance. It is concluded that aviation systems designers, in cooperation with pilots and regulatory bodies, should lead the strategic effort of systematically addressing the serious issues of cockpit automation, human factors, and cultural issues, including their interactions, which will certainly lead to better solutions for safer flights.

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