Chapter 14 - Aviation Displays

Abstract

This chapter discusses how advances in display technology have altered the role of human information processing in the cockpit. It describes both, how these advances have improved pilot performance, and the emerging challenges that resulted. Finally, it discusses how recent aviation industry initiatives influence current and future display technologies. The information age has enabled the development and advancement of modern aviation displays. Provided that the human information processing limitations are considered when integrating different forms of information, the glass cockpit now serves to perform this integration automatically. Although there are obvious benefits associated with these display advances, poor consideration of the costs associated with different methods of integration will result in displays that tax individuals, the same if not more, than the traditional gauge displays of the past. Constant growth and shifting industry goals for the future, dictate that integration of flight critical information in displays, capitalize on the strengths and weaknesses of both the human and computer in the aviation system. It is important to realize that even when keeping human factors principles in mind for display design, errors will likely not cease to occur. Instead keeping human factors principles in mind for design will help to design systems that, through a process of addressing cost and benefit of design recommendations, will produce more optimally designed displays.