Design of Controls- Instrumentation, display and alertness

Explain the importance of the following in control design:

size

shape/recognition by touch

location

layout and the uniformity of spatial arrangement

direction of movement

visibility

Match force required, too small-slip, too big- accidental movement, critical controls e.g. gear

Allows identifying without looking, flap lever flat and gear level- wheel shaped

Frequency used, emergency control instantly reachable

Controls arranged logically and related controls grouped

Throttle forward (more poor), pull back (climb), push down (descend)

Clearly seen at night and day

Explain the importance of the following in the design of instrumentation, display and alerts:

size

position

layout

visibility

legibility

scale

use of color

illumination

Large to read

Primary instrument in front

Grouped by function

Readable in sunlight glare, turbulence

Clear #, symbols, unit

Important range emphasized

Red (danger) green (normal) amber (caution) white (information)

Adjustable brightness

Describe parallax error

Pilot view instrument from an angle instead of straight ahead. Should view from a perpendicular to dial

Describe common errors in display interpretation of three pointer altimeters

Expectation and confirmation bias

Mis reading units

Fixation on one instrument

Describe potential errors in the interpretation of the artificial horizon

Bank mistaken as climb

Pitch mistaken for bank

Fail to notice will increase banking

Somatogravic illusion

Describe the basic requirements of alerts

Detectable

Meaningful

Prioritized

Unambiguous

Actionable

Attention getting

Describe problems associated with presentation and misinterpretation of alerts

Nuisance warning

Too many alarms

Similar sounds

Late alerts

False alerts

Startle effect

Describe how color coding conventions are used in aviation instruments, display and navigation charts

Strictly Standardized

Design to provide pilots with immediate situational awareness at a glance

E.g. Red (danger) green (normal) yellow (caution) magentia (active guidance)