The Human Factors of FMS Usage in the Terminal Area

https://doi.org/10.21949/1403253Copyright c 1997 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc.1997PDFResearch PaperHuman factors engineeringFlight information servicesAdvanced automation system (Air traffic control)Communication systemsArrivals and departuresWorkloadAircraft trajectoriesArrival aircraftFlight Management Systems (FMS) usageLee, Katharine K.Sanford, Beverly D.Slattery, Rhonda A.American Institute of Aeronautics and AstronauticsAmes Research CenterNTL-AVIATION-Air Traffic ControlNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Human FactorsUS Transportation CollectionThe development of advanced automation for arrival aircraft into the terminalarea is being investigated for both the air traffic control (ATC) and airborneenvironments. For the automation to be effective and provide the best advisoryinformation, aircraft trajectories must be accurately estimated. One way toenhance the aircraft's adherence to the trajectories assumed by advanced ATCautomation is to supply trajectory information to the pilots. Such informationis currently provided by ATC to pilots through voice communication. Providingthe advisories to the pilots via their Flight Management Systems (FMS) couldhelp improve the timeliness of the advisories, especially in a time-criticalterminal area environment. To successfully implement the FMS for use in theterminal area, human factors issues such as pilot workload and the usabilityand understandability of the information presented via the FMS must beaddressed. This study examines the human factors aspects of FMS usagestrategies by commercial airline crews flying a Boeing 747-400 full-motionsimulator in a terminal area flight segment. Results indicate that FMS-guidedflight in the terminal area creates significantly higher amounts of individualcrewmembers' head-down time, and increased levels of self-reported workloadcompared to conventional navigational means. 9p. Copyright c 1997 by theAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. The U.S. Governmenthas a royalty-free license to exercise the copyright claimed herein forGovernmental Purposes. All other rights are reserved by the copyright owner.84