Advanced flight management system human interface

Abstract

Abstract Alternative Flight Management System (FMS) human interface concepts are becoming increasingly important to investigate as the complexities of understanding and operating this equipment continue to burden and confuse an already inundated pilot. Rockwell Collins, Inc. has designed an advanced FMS display/interface that will significantly reduce and/or eliminate human interface problems between users and the FMS. Results from human factors investigations for a limited set of FMS functions reveal statistically significant findings at the 95th level of confidence favoring the Advanced FMS Interface display format. The Advanced FMS Interface display format produced quicker reaction times and lower levels of mental workload than the a conventional Control Display Unit (CDU) type FMS. Furthermore, statistically significant findings at the 98th level of confidence for three subjective measures, Usability, Learnability, and Overall Attitude lean in favor of this type of FMS display format. These statistically significant findings lead us to believe that this Advanced FMS Interface display format has great potential for significantly reducing and/or eliminating human interface problems between users and the FMS while at the same time reducing pilot mental workload.