The Impact of automation on Pilot Training Capt

The Impact of automation on Pilot Training Capt Cor Blokzijl, DFO Mandala Airlines WATS, Orlando, 27 April 2010 1

Statement : Aircraft do seldom fall out of the sky due to a system or engine failure. Accidents involve a long chain of events before matters really go dramatically wrong. It is much more the complex systems and the man-machine interface (and dialogue), which are the starting point of matters going wrong, mainly because pilots are faced with situations which are difficult to comprehend or to understand. 2

Question : ”Should our pilot training, especially our recurrent training, be focussed on this comprehending and understanding? ” 3

Background : Flight training = teaching psychomotoric skills (RAF AP-129) Increased technology = added technical knowledge Highly Automated Cockpit is more cognitive challenge HAC needs man-machine-interface + man-machine-dialogue Cognitive adjustment is needed Focus on comprehend and understand M-M-I & M-M-D 4

Tools for training : Training tools: • Documentation hard/soft • Classroom training/interactive, on line modules • Films, ppt’s, VACBI, etc. • System trainers • FFS 5

Effects of training tools : • Time wise limited • Has to be rehearsed regular • Recurrent training = repeating items from original training 6

Exposure training : • Exposed to a scenario = experienced the scenario • Burned your fingers once = always remembered • Chances to find useful information when needed is higher being exposed than learning in class, VACBI or sim exercise • Create events which happened world wide (SR 111, AF 447) 7

Exposure training: l Training tools not necessarily related to daily flying (ESSAI) l Do not require knowledge but understanding l By scenario teach system failures and the influence on the system interface l What does the pilot expect to see, what if this is not the case? 8

What do we train: Initial training: • Systems & system knowledge • Operating these systems in normal, ab-normal & emergency conditions • System interface • Line-training 9

What do we train: Recurrent training: • Repetition of exercises • Required performance by regulating authorities • Minimum 5 “ab-normals “ or failures • Minimum 3 emergencies Typical one day LOFT and one day skill test 10

Conventional training: Risk of conventional training in HAC: • Training skills related to single event • Training skills in isolated manner • Training skills for a combination of other skills which: - very unlikely combination - not become relevant at same moment 11

Exposure training: Which events, incidents or accidents happened in last year? Examples: • Hudson river • Sao Paulo • Jamaica • Toronto • AF 447 12

Exposure training: Exposure training is also Mind-map training Mind-map is the behavioural strategy for DM, TM and SA Mind-map training: • Experience (exposure) • Training cognitive skills in operational situations • Training to understanding i. s. o knowledge per se • System understanding major factor in TM and SA 13

Conclusion: Exposure training enhances : • Situation Awareness • Understanding System Interface • Understanding of dynamic of system failures • Understanding of fleet accidents & incidents world wide • Problem/situation recognition 14

Any Questions? 15

Feedback: Any feedback to: [email protected] com 16