Vertical situation awareness and pilot performance

Abstract

This study examines a pilot's understanding of the avionics' behavior while flying. Under most conditions, pilots are able to successfully understand the avionics during flight. There are times, however, when the pilot may not be totally aware of what the avionics are doing, why an action is being performed, and what the automation will do next. Explanations of these conditions that lead to aviation surprises have included many relating to the lowered situation awareness of the pilot during these times. It has also been shown that several vertical guidance modes are not displayed which lead to a pilot loosing track of the current mode of operation, especially during periods of high mental workload and multi-task performance. This paper suggests ways to improve situation awareness in a dynamic flight environment.