Generating Design Requirements for Flight Deck Applications: Applying the Perceptual Cycle Model to Engine Failures on Take-off

ABSTRACT

Engine failure events during critical phases of flight are a rare yet very real possibility on commercial aircraft. The response of the pilots to these events is vital to minimizing possible adversity. New technologies are in development that provide enhanced information on the status of the aircraft engine after sustaining engine damage in order to guide pilot’s decision making. It is important that this enhanced information is aligned with the requirements of the user. This paper describes how user input can effectively be incorporated early on in the design process of new technologies to understand how current systems may be improved. The Perceptual Cycle Model (PCM) is applied to in-depth interview reports from commercial airline pilots on their responses to different engine failure events caused by bird-strikes to the engine. Application of the PCM demonstrates where current processes may be better supported to enhance pilot decision making from such events. From this, areas where improvements could be made using future avionic systems are presented, with user-led design recommendations.

Acknowledgments

This project was co-funded by Innovate UK, the UK’s Innovation Agency, with support from the UK Aerospace Technology Institute. We would also like to extend thanks to the pilots who took part in our interview study for their invaluable contributions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Katie J. Parnell

Katie Parnell is a Chartered Ergonomist and Human Factors Specialist currently working as a Human Factors Research Fellow within the Human Factors Engineering research group at the University of Southampton. Her current role is on the Open Flight Deck project, focusing on future cockpit design in commercial aircraft.

Rachael A. Wynne

Rachael Wynne is a Senior Research Assistant with Human Factors Engineering, part of the Transportation Research Group at the University of Southampton. She has a background in psychology and is working on the Open Flight Deck project. Her PhD research was in the fields of Psychology and Human Factors.

Thomas G. C. Griffin

Tom Griffin has been flying for over 20 years in a variety of roles including instruction, air ambulance, business aviation and currently as a long-haul pilot for a legacy airline. Tom’s doctorate looked at further understanding the human factors involved in aviation accidents using non-linear methodologies.

Katherine L. Plant

Katherine Plant is a Lecturer in Human Factors Engineering in the Transportation Research Group at the University of Southampton. Her current research projects are in aviation human factors, road safety in developing countries and cycling safety in the UK.

Neville A. Stanton

Neville Stanton is a Professor of Human Factors Engineering in the Transportation Research Group at the University of Southampton. He is a Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Ergonomist and Chartered Engineer. His interests include modeling, predicting, analyzing and evaluating human performance in systems as well as designing the interfaces and human-technology interaction.