Improvement approach of the automation system in aviation for flight safety

Abstract

Next generation cockpit concept aiming to reduce the risk of pilot-error-induced accident was studied. This new cockpit concept, called Human-Centered Cockpit incorporates several ideas which aim to improve the pilot's situation awareness for the terrain and the aircraft situation without increasing the pilot's cognitive workload. This concept is built on task analysis and accident analysis, and through several times of the airline pilot reviews using partial task simulation of new functions, design issues were identified and the design was brushed up. Fully functional cockpit simulator was finally developed to evaluate the effectiveness of this cockpit concept in the realistic commercial aircraft operational environment from preflight to spot-in, including the ATC. Six pilots participated in the final evaluation and the result showed that this cockpit concept enhances the pilot's situation awareness in me actual operation environment, and improves the pilot's cognitive workload in flight. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2007.