Lessons Learned from the Glass Cockpit

The progressive integration of automation technologies in commercial transport aircraft flight decks -the “glass cockpit” -has had a major, and generally positive, impact on flight crew operations. Flight deck automation has provided significant benefits, such as economic efficiency, increased precision and safety, and enhanced functionality within the crew interface. These enhancements, however, may have been accrued at a price, such as complexity added to crew/automation interaction that has been implicated in a number of aircraft incidents and accidents. This report briefly describes “glass cockpit” evolution. Some relevant aircraft accidents and incidents are described, followed by a more detailed description of human/automation issues and problems (e.g., crew error, monitoring, modes, command authority, crew coordination, workload, and training). This paper concludes with example principles and guidelines for considering “glass cockpit” human/automation integration within space transportation systems. Introduction and Background The progressive integration of automation technologies, Flight Management Systems (FMS), and enhanced displays in commercial transport aircraft flight decks -the “glass cockpit” -has had a major, and generally positive, impact on flight crew operations. For example, these technologies have increased safety and have provided enhanced crew interface features and use of limited cockpit “real estate,” more efficient flight path control and management, and a general reduction in crew workload. It is anticipated that significant automation technologies will be considered for integration into the next generation reusable human-rated space transportation system. This automation has the potential to enhance such functions as launch, ascent, and orbit insertion; rendezvous and proximity operations (e.g., during ISS resupply missions, for satellite retrieval and repair); detection and actuation of escape systems; on-orbit payload operations; and de-orbit, entry, descent, approach, and landing (especially with a deconditioned crew). Automation has provided a number of benefits on aircraft flight decks and could provide similar benefits to a Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV). Some of these benefits are: • Economic Efficiencies: Automation has provided savings in a number of domains, by enhancing efficiencies (e.g., in fuel use) and by reducing operating costs (e.g., by enhanced reliability, reduced maintenance requirements, and reduced crew size);