Abstract
NASA's Taxiway Navigation and Situational Awareness (TNASA)'s in-cockpit Electronic Moving Map (EMM) has been found to improve the efficiency and safety of airport surface (ground taxi) operations. However its design also leads to a paradox: the EMM requires the pilot to look head-down into the cockpit, diverting attention away from the primary, out-the-window (OTW) view. The present study examined the potential benefits of pilots attending to the EMM only when directed by either audio or visual “head-up” callouts. The callouts were presented in either a general (“check map”) or specific (“traffic conflict your right”) form. The visual attention effects of audio and visual callouts, in both general and specific form, were assessed using an eye tracking system in the context of a medium fidelity part-task ground taxi simulation. Our objective was to determine ways to maximize the utility of the EMM while minimizing its head-down visual attention demands. Preliminary results showed all callout types, specifically audio, increased OTW dwell time, with a stated preference for having any callout present over not having one.
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