Cockpit automation impacts pilots ability to perform manual tasks, says study

Prolonged use of automated cockpits will significantly affect pilots’ ability to perform key tasks manually, according to a new research.

The study, entitled ‘The Retention of Manual Flying Skills in the Automated Cockpit’, identified that automated cockpits put at risk pilots’ thinking skills on operating the aircraft controls such as navigating, awareness of the status of the flight, and diagnosing troublesome situations.

Nasa Ames Research Center research psychologist and study co-author Steve Casner said: "There is widespread concern among pilots and air carriers that as the presence of automation increases in the airline cockpit, pilots are losing the skills they still need to fly the airplane the ‘old-fashioned way’ when the computers crash."

As part of the study, 16 experienced pilots were asked to fly routine and non-routine flight scenarios in a Boeing 747-100 simulator.

Automation levels available to the pilots were varied as the pilots’ performance was graded.

The researchers identified significant problems when pilots were asked to manually perform the cognitive tasks, including tracking the aircraft status and troubleshoot problems, on disabling GPS and map display and automated systems.

However, pilots’ instrument-scanning and stick-and-rudder skills continued to remain same after prolonged periods of disuse, researchers said.

Casner said: "Our results suggest that we might be a bit less concerned about things that pilots do ‘by hand’ in the cockpit and a bit more concerned about those things that they do ‘by mind’.

"Pilots’ ability to remain mindful and engaged as they now watch computers do most of the flying may be a key challenge to keeping their cognitive skills fresh."