Using iconic cues to recover from fixation on tablet devices in the cockpit

Abstract

Tablet devices are increasingly used as electronic flight bags in general aviation. However, there are risks associated with the use of such devices in the aviation context, particularly if the pilot becomes fixated and loses situation awareness. The present study investigated the effectiveness of presenting iconic cues and generic icons on a tablet device interface as a means of reengaging pilots with aircraft flight systems following a failure. The results indicated that the participants were faster to respond to simulated aircraft failures when icons were associated with the cause of the failure, and slower when they were associated with a related aircraft indicator or with a generic event. The implications of these findings are discussed.