Flight Deck Ergonomics Flashcards
Describe the basic principles of control, display and workspace design
Ergonomics is concerned with the understanding of the interaction between human and other elements of a system. In aviation Ergonomics is concerned with the ‘fit’ between flight crew and their flight deck or of facilitating the interface between the pilots and the aircraft controls and instrumentation
Explain the importance of the following in flight deck design:
(a) Reach
Pilot should be able to reach controls without moving
Since all flight crew will be seated controls must fall within normal reach
Some controls duplicated and located close to center line of normal work areas
Some controls shared and located in the area of overlap. Eg center console
There must be adequate and comfortable clearance for limbs, knees and elbows do not contact equipment within reach volume
Explain the importance of the following in flight deck design
b) Comfort
Long periods of sitting
When sitting upright is one when spinal shape is same as when standing
Lumbar support for spine
Seat adjustment to reach controls
With shoulders and buttocks in contact the lumbar support must be adjusted to just fill the gap made by lower spinal curve. Discs evenly loaded
Explain the importance of the following in flight deck design
Posture
Curvature of the spine needs to be correct
Explain the importance of the following in flight deck design
Lighting levels.
Need to be adjustable for both day and night flying
Distinguish between biometrics, biomechanics and anthropometry.
Biometrics are biological measurements — or physical characteristics — that can be used to identify individuals. For example, fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, and retina scans are all forms of biometric technology
Biomechanics refers to the study of biological systems, particularly their structure and function and movement of different parts of human body
Anthropometry refers to the measurement of the human individual. The height and width of a doorway, or the height and depth of a cabinet or countertop all rely on anthropometry
Percentile
Its impractical to design a flight deck to accomodate every individual
So flight deck is designed to accomodate a sensible percentage of population known as percentile
What is anthropometry
The study of human measurement.
What is the difference between anthropometry and biomechanics?
Anthropometry is the study of the measurements and proportions of the human body. Biomechanics is the study of biological systems, particularly their structure and function
Describe applications of biomechanics in the design of flight decks.
Since it is necessary for pilots to be seated, often for long periods of time, in a cramped space it is most important that the seat should be comfortable. Pilots should also be able to comfortably reach all controls/switches without having to move/reach
Explain the relevance of anthropometry in the design of flight decks.
Pilots come in all shapes and sizes so it would be impossible to design a cockpit perfect for everyone.
The average size pilot has been calculated from statistics of height and reach and therefore cockpits are designed to accommodate a sensible percentage of the population
The three types of anthropometric measurements are:
static, dynamic, contour
Describe the effects of a poorly designed cockpit on pilot performance.
This can cause a lot of fatigue on the pilot as they may have to move around a lot to reach the required control/switch. They may also have to move their head to see a switch or control and this could be distracting especially during a critical phase of flight
You are flying an earlier model helicopter on longer range operations. After several days of flying you develop a painful back. A likely significant contributing cause of your pain is
Cockpit ergonomics
Explain the importance of eye datum or eye design position
Available seat adjustment should provide the pilot with an adequate view of controls, instrumentation, and the outside world with minimal head movement.
Aircraft manufacturers therefore, must design their cockpits around a design eye position and will construct the window position and place the instrument panels accordingly
In the Boeing 767 sitting just 25mm low will cause the pilot to lose 40m ground vision on final approach
A pilot should be able to view all the main cockpit instruments while maintaining a reasonable view of the outside world with minimal head movement
What is the most important feature of flight deck design
The design eye point must be clearly marked
What will the pilot lose sight of on the approach if seated below the Design Eye Point?
Some of the undershoot
Describe the problems associated with windshield design and visibility
The size and shape of cockpit windows is determined by aerodynamic and weight considerations.
The slope and curvature of aircraft windshields that are designed for high speed flight can cause visual distortion.
Larger windows require thicker glass with stronger frames; therefore a compromise is needed between excessive weight and acceptable visibility
Displays character size
4 mm is accepted minimum for character height and a mixture of upper and lower case has been found preferable to all upper case
Display scale design
Analogue scale
Familiar from child hood clock face display
Advantage position of pointer can be instantly interpreted and associated scale only used when exact readings required.
Good for comparisons like egt gauges for engines
Its takes about 3 times longer to read 3 needle altimeter to a digital one and 20% is misinterpreted
Instead of circular can be also linear like
Display scale design
Digital
Useful when exact values needed like dme range
Often combined with analogue displays
List the advantages and disadvantages of working in an automated cockpit.
Autopilot can fly the aircraft accurately and efficiently
Reduces load on pilot and allows multi-tasking and improves SA
2 or 3 computers increased reliability
Reduced crew input and hence human error
Pilots can become over reliant and bored
Require constant monitoring and understanding of flight modes
Data entry errors
Loss of handflying skills and loss of feeling of importance and professionalism
Describe the effects of advanced cockpit automation, including:
(a) Failure to monitor
The pilot needs to be certain which mode the autopilot is operating in as this can directly affect the vertical and horizontal navigation and flight path of the aircraft
Automation
may result in a pilot being unaware of important information when dealing with an unusual and unexpected situation
Explain the importance of the following in the design of instrumentation, displays and alerts, colour coding
Useful as an attention getter, but should be limited to a few different colours as to avoid confusion
Red and amber are preferred warning and caution colours with green indicating a normal parameter
