Human-computer interaction analysis of flight management system messages

Researchers have identified low proficiency in pilot response to flight management system error messages and have documented pilot perceptions that the messages contribute to the overall difficulty in learning and using the flight management system. It is well known that sharp reductions in pilot proficiency occur when pilots are asked to perform tasks that are time-critical, occur very infrequently, and are not guided by salient visual cues on the user-interface. This paper describes the results of an analysis of the pilot human-computer interaction required to respond to 67 flight management system error messages from a representative modern flight management system. Thirty-six percent of the messages require prompt pilot response, occur very infrequently, and are not guided by visual cues. These results explain, in part, issues with pilot proficiency, and demonstrate the need for deliberate design of the messages to account for the properties of human-computer interaction. Guidelines for improved training and design of the error messages are discussed.