操縦士勉強会コミュのAutomation

Automation

The introduction of automation to the cockpit has great benefit to aviation. The system could hold many information and less likely to make mistake and fail. However the modern system usually has many modes and so many information, proper guidance and continuous practice is required to preserve correct operation skill. Otherwise inappropriate use of the system can be disastrous.
Although the automated systems are more reliable than human, pilots have to monitor this “virtual crew member” for its correct operation.

In the past, many accident and incident had occurred because of wrong entry of data has made due to luck of system and mode awareness. One of example is the pilot entered rate of descent of 3300 fpm instead of 3.3 deg glide slope led them fly into the ground.

Advantages are the automation reduces pilot workload associated with the manual task of flying. The system is reliable and provides highly accuracy and they are very cost effective. Although the workload in manual flying is reduced, the disadvantages of automation are we still have to program and monitor the system and that task will increase significantly especially in emergencies.

Automation will reduce workload during low workload time however current research has identified that automation will increase of pilot workload during high workload situations, such as departure and arrival. It is because they have to pay attention to data entry and system monitoring, that task reduces time to look outside for possible conflicts.

Complacency negatively effect automated systems. The pilot who over confidence, rely and trust in automation will lose situational awareness and not be prepared to take correct and prompt action if system failure occurs.

If the pilot could correctly use automated systems, automation will be very useful tool however automation not always detect wrong data entry and as the system become more modern and sophisticated, the pilot will be required to understand system in more details.
The automation is one of the major challenges to situational awareness. The pilot can easily encounter unexpected system output due to incorrect operation of the system, which increases chance to lose situational awareness.
As the system continues to evolve, the function of the flight crew will also evolve.

Usually more than 1 crew operates the large commercial aircraft with sophisticated automated systems. The crew not making data entry should supervise other crew’s action to minimise chance of incorrect entry. An effective communication between crew is also essential to discuss FMS automation usage before making any entry.

Automation is very useful tool however some human qualities are not being able to replace with automation. The human has capability of quickly grasp logical connection in large quantity of data. The human are more flexible in dealing with unexpected event. Human ability become evolves only with practice and experience. Even though the automation reduces crew’s workload, we still have to learn the operation of the system and keep manage and monitor this virtual crew member with same CRM techniques as human crew.