Recommended Training Practices to Prepare Pilots to Cope with Information Conflicts

Abstract

Verbatim from Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons. Not paraphrased, not summarized.

As the next generation of flight deck information systems are being utilized on the flight deck, pilots now have greater amounts of information at their fingertips. Information that was typically available only from certified information sources in aircraft panels, is now being provided by a range of sources, both within the panel and on Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs). Although redundant sources of information provide pilots a means by which to crosscheck and hone in on ground truth, they also introduce the potential for pilots encountering conflicting information. As conflicting information can have negative effects on decision making, there is a need to ensure pilots are trained to effectively evaluate, integrate and make decisions based on information from redundant, and potentially conflicting information. Based on findings from the literature, we present several best practice guidelines for preparing pilots to effectively respond to situations in which they will be faced with redundant and potentially conflicting information. Based on data collected during a questionnaire study administered to a large sample of airline, corporate and general aviation pilots, and a simulation-based study with B737 airline pilots, we operationalize these guidelines into specific training recommendations for the pilot training community and provide use case examples of how these recommendations would be implemented in both commercial and general aviation contexts.

Authors

• Carroll, Meredith, Ph.D. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Sanchez, Paige Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Wilt, Donna Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Keywords

• Aviation
• Training
• Decision Making
• Information Conflicts
• Human Factors Psychology