Pilot confidence with ATC automation using cockpit situation display tools in a distributed traffic management environment

Abstract

NASA's Flight Deck Display Research Laboratory recently investigated air traffic automation designed to alleviate groundside workload in high traffic environments. This paper examines the data from post-experiment debriefings. We found that pilots are comfortable reviewing automated conflict resolutions, as well as modifying those resolutions before execution. The pilots were less comfortable with an automated system that had no pilot or controller human-in-the-loop review process. This traffic management concept will not be optimally achieved if pilots do not trust automation without a human review process in every conflict situation. While initial development of these systems should focus on ways to effectively enable such reviews of the automation, confidence can be expected to increase as pilots develop first-hand experience with the system. © 2009 Springer Berlin Heidelberg.