Computers in the Cockpit: But What About the Pilots?

Microprocessor development has now made it possible to automate many functions previously performed manually in the cockpit. While the automatic equipment is generally reliable and works well if operated properly, it may also be misused, if designers fail to properly consider human factors in their design. Misuse or underuse may result in accidents, incidents, or sub-optimal system performance. This paper discusses the general problem of human factors in cockpit automation, and reports preliminary findings from a human factors study of the operational experience of airline pilots transitioning from older DC-9 aircraft to the McDonnell-Douglas DC-9-80.