Integrating Uncertified Information from the Electronic Flight Bag into the Aircraft Panel: Impacts on Pilot Response

ABSTRACT

Many pilots utilize portable electronic flight bags (EFB) as supplemental sources of information on the flight deck. Because EFB applications often obtain data from different sources than the certified systems displayed in the aircraft panel, there is a potential for the EFB and onboard systems to simultaneously show pilots information that conflicts. As manufacturers explore integrating uncertified EFB information into the aircraft panel, there is a need to understand the impact of information conflicts on pilot response. A simulation study with Boeing 737 pilots was conducted to examine how level of integration of uncertified information into the aircraft panel impacts pilot response to information conflicts between an uncertified EFB source and approved sources of information on the flight deck. The results indicate that as uncertified EFB information became more integrated into the panel, participants were more likely to both detect and investigate information conflicts between approved and uncertified sources.

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Federal Aviation Administration NextGen Human Factors Division (ANG-C1) under Contract # DTFAWA-16-D-00003. Such funding must not be construed as the FAA endorsing or sponsoring the content of this paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Meredith Carroll

Meredith Carroll is an Associate Professor of Aviation Human Factors at Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics. She has over 15 years of experience, both in industry and academia, studying human performance, human-computer interaction and learning in complex systems within commercial aviation, military and space applications.

Summer Rebensky

Summer Rebensky is a post doctoral researcher at Florida Institute of Technology. She has over 5 years of experience studying decision making, interface design, training, and team performance. She also has experience in virtual environment development, including research environments for aviation and team simulations.

Donna Wilt

Donna Wilt is a Professor of Aeronautics at Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics. She has over 30 years of experience as a pilot, educator, and researcher in the aviation industry. Dr. Wilt has a unique combination of expertise in cognition, human factors, and avionics engineering and applies it to increasing aviation safety.

Warren Pittorie

Warren Pittorie is an instructor and PhD student in Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics. He is a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor. His research focuses on combining his experience as a licensed pilot with research in aviation human factors, decision making, and automation.

Leonia Hunt

Leonia Hunt is a Masters student in Aviation Human Factors in the College of Aeronautics. She is a certified flight instructor and also is a commercially rated single- and multi-engine rated pilot. She has conducted aviation research and system analysis projects including evaluation and design solutions for cockpit display.

Maria Chaparro

Maria Chaparro is a Ph.D. student in Aviation Sciences with a focus in Human Factors in Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics. Her research interests include sustained attention and performer/learner engagement in complex monitoring tasks in operational and training contexts, and usability of mobile applications.

Paige Sanchez

Paige Sanchez recently graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics with her Masters in Aviation Human Factors. Her current research focuses on pilot decision making on the flight deck and the usability and design of information-heavy mobile applications used in safety critical industries.