Simulation Study of Technology for Predicted Flight Deck Alerting of Energy

Automation surprise and automation mode confusion are contributory causal factors in accidents and incidents in commercial aviation world-wide. Complex algorithms within the flight management system computer are used to calculate and then execute optimized paths based on navigation and procedure constraints while operating the aircraft as efficiently as possible. However, little pilot training is provided for where pilots can gain an understanding of what the automation is doing and if the automation will make future path constraints. Flight simulation studies were conducted at NASA Langley Research Center as part of the Automation and Information Management Experiment (AIME) series. Prediction of future events in response to clearance changes and off-nominal conditions were evaluated using the Predicted Alerting of Energy display technology in two of these AIME studies. Display changes based on pilot intent were used to evaluate pilot understanding of stabilized approach criteria in response to clearance changes late in the approach. Acceptability and usability analysis and pilot observations were used to make recommendations on future study. The data showed that prediction technologies can contribute to pilot confusion due to uncertainty of input information and the time horizon for the prediction. Training recommendations are provided based on crew observations for use in a simulation study.