Aircrew Response Procedures to Inflight Mechanical Emergencies

Abstract

The central goal of this investigation was to study crew response procedures to inflight mechanical system emergencies. This study assessed those cognitive activities found to be important when responding to mechanical emergencies, and attention that is devoted to each of these activities. Participants were required to fly a predetermined mission scenario in which mechanical system failures were introduced. Aircrew were asked to identify the procedures that were triggered by each problem condition, and how their attention was allocated to various cognitive activities. The usefulness of a preliminary taxonomic structure that was developed to characterize the cognitive activities of aircrew engaged in a simulated flight scenario will become apparent during actual interface development. These activities will be translated into interface design and functionality requirements to support new sensor/diagnostic technologies currently being developed.